76ers secure top seed in the East

PHILADELPHIA — Seth Curry scored 20 points, Joel Embiid had 13 points and 11 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers clinched the top seed for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference with a 122-97 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

Ben Simmons added 13 points and nine assists to help the 76ers improve to 48-23. Philadelphia could’ve clinched earlier this week, but lost at Indiana on Tuesday and at Miami on Thursday. Embiid didn’t play against the Pacers due to illness and logged just 25 minutes against the Heat while still looking sluggish.

But he was more engaged in the second quarter against the undermanned Magic, helping Philadelphia outscore Orlando 39-19 in the period to take firm control.

Embiid showed the edge that has made him arguably Philadelphia’s mostloved athlete when he picked up a technical for a confrontation with Shane Bacon with 3:16 left in the period.

Philadelphia fans reigned down “M-V-P!” “M-V-P!” chants on Embiid in the first half. And those cheers will get even louder in the postseason, as the city announced this week that the 76ers’ home arena can have 50 percent capacity when the playoffs begin. That will mean about 10,000 fans can be in attendance, or about double the current allowance.

JAZZ 109, THUNDER 93

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points, and visiting Utah inched closer to claiming the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Jazz entered the night with the league’s best record and a onegame lead on Phoenix in the race for the top seed in the West. Utah can clinch the top seed with a win at Sacramento on Sunday or a loss by Phoenix against San Antonio on Saturday or Sunday.

WIZARDS 120 CAVALIERS 105

Russell Westbrook got his first triple-double since passing Oscar Robertson and becoming the NBA’s career leader earlier in the week, helping host Washington clinch a spot in the play-in tournament.

Westbrook had 21 points, 17 assists and 12 rebounds for his 183rd career triple-double and league-leading 37th this season.

NUGGETS 104, PISTONS 91

Markus Howard scored a career-high 20 points, Nikola Jokic had a tripledouble and visiting Denver moved closer to a higher playoff seed. Jokic had 20 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists as Denver improved to 3-0 on a four-game road trip that finishes the regular season.

MAVERICKS 114 RAPTORS 110

Luka Doncic had his 11th triple-double of the season with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists and host Dallas guaranteed itself a top-six finish in the Western Conference to avoid the NBA’s play-in next week.

GRIZZLIES 107, KINGS 106

Justise Winslow had season highs with 25 points and 13 rebounds, and host Memphis held on to beat Sacramento. Memphis plays at Golden State on Sunday, with the winner earning the eighth seed in the Western Conference play-in and the loser dropping to ninth.

WARRIORS 125 PELICANS 122

Visiting New Orleans, down 18 at halftime, rallied in the second half to lead late, but Jordan Poole (38 points) led Golden State to victory.