James hits milestone; Cavs are No. 4 seed
CLEVELAND — LeBron James played in his 82nd game, scored 10 points and then got some rest for the playoffs as the Cleveland Cavaliers were beaten 110-98 by New York in their regular-season finale on Wednesday.
James had never played every regular-season game in his 15-year NBA career. But he capped a remarkable season in which he seemed to break a record every night.
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said he tried to talk James out of playing, but he gave in and allowed the 33-year-old to extend his record of scoring in double digits to 873 consecutive games before taking him out. James finished with 10 points and five rebounds in 10:33.
The Cavs are the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and will face Indiana in the opening round. The Pacers went 3-1 against the Cavs this season.
TIMBERWOLVES 112, NUGGETS 106, OT: Jimmy Butler scored 31 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 14 rebounds and host Minnesota ended the NBA’s longest-running playoff drought, beating Denver in the first finalday play-in game in the league in 21 years. It was the Timberwolves’ first postseason appearance since 2004. Nikola Jokic finished with 35 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, but he missed six of his last eight shots after the third quarter and Denver’s late push fell a few points short. LeBron James of the Cavaliers drives past Luke Kornet of the Knicks early in the game. He started, marking the first time in his career he has appeared in all 82 regular-season games. Minnesota moves on to play the NBA-best Houston Rockets in the first round.
76ERS 130, BUCKS 95: Joel Embiid and JJ Redick watched from the bench, Ben Simmons had a scoreless first half and Philadelphia still won its 16th consecutive game, thumping visiting Milwaukee to clinch the No. 3 seed in the East. Markelle Fultz had his first career triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for the 76ers. Justin Anderson led Philadelphia with 25 points. Embiid wore a mask during warmups to protect a broken bone around his left eye, then watched as the Sixers romped to an 80-44 lead at the break. Embiid said he will likely miss at least Game 1 of the playoffs.
THUNDER 137, GRIZZLIES 123: Paul George scored 40 points, Russell Westbrook clinched a triple-double average for the second
straight season and host Oklahoma City defeated Memphis. Westbrook entered needing 16 rebounds to clinch the triple-double average. He pulled down his 16th rebound with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter and received a standing ovation. He finished with just six points, but had a career-high 20 rebounds and 19 assists. Dillon Brooks scored a career-high 36 points for Memphis.
PELICANS 122, SPURS 98: Anthony Davis had 22 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks and three steals, and New Orleans assured itself no worse than the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a victory over visiting San Antonio. Rajon Rondo had 19 points and 14 assists, and Nikola Mirotic had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Pelicans, who led by double-digits throughout the second half.