Thunder, Spurs, Pelicans clinch postseason spots
The Western Conference postseason picture got a lot clearer Monday night as Oklahoma City, San Antonio and New Orleans all clinched spots.
Paul George scored 27 points, Russell Westbrook got his 25th triple-double of the season and the visiting Thunder beat Miami 115-93. The host Spurs rallied late to beat Sacramento 98-85 and clinch their 21st straight postseason appearance. The Pelicans scored a 113-100 victory over the Clippers in Los Angeles to ensure their first playoff berth in three years.
Meanwhile, Minnesota will host Denver on Wednesday night, with the winner advancing and the loser out. On Monday, the host Timberwolves defeated Memphis 113-94, and the Nuggets won their sixth straight game with an 88-82 victory over visiting Portland.
The Warriors are locked into the No. 2 spot in the West, and Houston has clinched the top seed in the conference.
Thunder 115, Heat 93: Westbrook finished with 23 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists for Oklahoma City, which missed its first 10 shots and was down by 18 in the opening minutes before outscoring the Heat 39-12 in the fourth. The 27-point margin was the third worst for any quarter in Heat history, and the worst ever in a game at Miami.
Spurs 98, Kings 85: Rudy Gay scored 18 points and Manu Ginobili had 17 to lead San Antonio. Sacramento, which was eliminated from the postseason March 11, led at one point by 14 before being outscored 38-19 in the fourth quarter.
Pelicans 113, Clippers 100: Anthony Davis scored 28 points and Nikola Mirotic had a double-double for New Orleans. Mirotic had 24 points and 16 rebounds in the Pelicans’ fourth straight victory. New Orleans made the playoffs without big man DeMarcus Cousins, who sustained a season-ending Achilles injury Jan. 28.
Nuggets 88, Trail Blazers 82: Nikola Jokic posted his 10th tripledouble of the season and Denver rallied past Portland.
Timberwolves 113, Grizzlies 94: Karl-Anthony Towns slammed his way to 24 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for Minnesota, which dusted Memphis.
Cavaliers James Kevin Love had 123, scored 26 points Knicks 28 and points, 109: 11 assists, LeBron and visiting Cleveland got its 50th win and another Central Division title by beating New York. The Cavaliers pulled a half-game back of Philadelphia for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference, winning for the sixth time in seven games. They reached 50 wins for the fourth time in four seasons since James returned from Miami.
Raptors Valanciunas visiting Toronto 108, scored Pistons scored 25 points, the 98: first Jonas and 13 points of the fourth quarter before holding off Detroit. The Pistons were playing without injured frontcourt players Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin for their home finale, but Detroit still led by 17 in the first half.
Bucks 102, Magic 86: Shabazz Muhammad scored a season-high 22 points and helped spark a key thirdquarter run, Eric Bledsoe had a triple-double and host Milwaukee breezed. The Bucks leapfrogged Miami for sixth in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee won its second straight game without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is resting a sore right ankle.
Nets 114, Bulls 105: On his 26th birthday, Cal alum Allen Crabbe scored 20 of his career-high 41 points in the first quarter and Brooklyn beat visiting Chicago for its first three-game winning streak this season. D’Angelo Russell had 21 points and 11 assists, and Spencer Dinwiddie scored 20 points for the Nets.