NBA ROUNDUP
THURSDAY’S GAMES
HOME team in caps.
Clippers 113, HORNETS 90: Paul George had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Reggie Jackson added five 3-pointers off the bench and the Clippers handed slumping Charlotte its fourth loss in five games. Charlotte never really had a chance with guards Terry Rozier and Devonte Graham combining to shoot 4 of 20 from the field and 2 of 13 from beyond the arc.
Bucks 142, PACERS 133:
Indiana dressed just 10 players due to injuries and didn’t have a defensive answer for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP who made 14 of 18 shots from the field – six on uncontested dunks – and hit 11 of 16 free throws on his way to a game-high 40 points. Antetokounmpo added 15 rebounds and six assists.
HAWKS 116, Magic 93:
Bogdan Bogdanovich scored 27 points and Trae Young added 18 a day after they clinched their first playoff berth since 2016-17. Atlanta has the NBA’s longest active home winning streak at 10 games. The Hawks, winning for the sixth in the last seven games, rested their starters in the fourth quarter.
HEAT 106, 76ers 94:
Jimmy Butler scored 21 points and Miami held onto the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia goes home for its final two games, both against Orlando. Win either of those, and no matter what Brooklyn or Milwaukee do the rest of the way the 76ers will be the No. 1 seed in the East for the first time since 2001.
KNICKS 102, Spurs 98:
San Antonio opened a 17-point lead in the third quarter but struggled to contain Alec Burks and RJ Barrett as the Knicks rallied. Burks scored a season-high 30 points in his return from a three-game absence due to a knee injury while Barrett scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half.
Nuggets 114, TIMBERWOLVES 103:
Nikola Jokic scored 16 of his 31 points in the first quarter as Denver took control and the playoff-bound Nuggets held off a second-half rally. Jokic had 12 of Denver’s first 14 points. Anthony Edwards scored 18 of his 29 points in the third quarter as Minnesota made its run.
GRIZZLIES 116, Kings 110: Jonas Valanciunas had 24 points and 13 rebounds and gave the Grizzlies the lead with a basket while being fouled with 1:23 left. He made the free throw, and the Grizzlies never trailed again. Memphis rallied late thanks to a 14-2 run. Justin James had a career-high 31 off the bench for the Kings.
BULLS 114, Raptors 102: The Bulls pulled within two games of idle Washington with two remaining for 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Chicago led by 24 in the third quarter. Zach LaVine scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half. Lauri Markkanen made six 3-pointers – one shy of his season high.
Trail Blazers at SUNS, late: The teams met for the third time this season. The Suns won 127-121 in the last matchup on March 11. Devin Booker led Phoenix with 35 points, and Damian Lillard led Portland with 30 points. Lillard is averaging 30.1 points while shooting 51.7% over the last 10 games for Portland.