Timberwolves end playoff drought

MINNESOTA 112 DENVER 106 (OT)

Jimmy Butler scored 31 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 14 rebounds, and the host Minnesota Timberwolves ended the NBA’s longest-running playoff drought, beating the Denver Nuggets 112-106 in overtime Wednesday night in the first finalday play-in game in the league in 21 years.

When the final horn blew, the capacity and white-towel-waving crowd at Target Center stood to soak in Minnesota’s first postseason appearance since 2004. Butler smiled and hugged his teammates as confetti fluttered from above.

at Oklahoma City 137, Memphis

123: With a rebound and nine minutes left in the third quarter, Russell Westbrook added another historic bullet point to his resume, becoming the first player to average a triple-double in multiple seasons.

at Philadelphia 130, Milwaukee 95:

Ben Simmons had a scoreless first half and the 76ers still won their 16th consecutive game to clinch the No. 3 seed in the East.

at Boston 110, Brooklyn 97: Aron Baynes led a short-handed Boston lineup with a career-best 26 points and 14 rebounds.

at Miami 116, Toronto 109 (OT):

Wayne Ellington scored a careerhigh 32 points and set Miami’s single-season record for three-pointers with 227, helping the Heat wrap up the No. 6 seed in the East.

at Orlando 101, Washington 92:

The Wizards went cold in the fourth quarter of their regular-season finale to finish eighth in the East playoff seeding. Washington lost five of its final six.

New York 110, at Cleveland 98: LeBron James played in his 82nd game, scored 10 points and then got some rest for the playoffs in the Cavaliers’ loss. It was coach Jeff Hornacek’s likely last game with the Knicks.

Detroit 119, at Chicago 87: Rookie Luke Kennard scored a careerhigh 23 points and Eric Moreland set career bests with 16 points and 17 rebounds to help the Pistons end disappointing season on high note.

at New Orleans 122, San Antonio

98: Anthony Davis had 22 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks and three steals, and the Pelicans assured themselves no worse than the sixth seed in the West.

at Portland 102, Utah 93: Damian Lillard had 36 points and 10 assists as Portland snapped a four-game losing skid to earn the Northwest Division title and the third seed.

at Sacramento 96, Houston 83:

Willie Cauley-Stein had 22 points and 11 rebounds as the Kings beat the shorthanded Rockets.

Lakers 115, at Clippers 100