Sixers streak reaches dozen
JJ Redick scored 25 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers won their 12th straight game, eliminating the Pistons from playoff contention with a 115-108 victory last night in Detroit.
The Pistons had their five-game winning streak snapped, and their defeat clinched a postseason spot for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Eastern Conference playoff field is now set, although there’s still plenty of uncertainty regarding the actual matchups. Philadelphia pulled even with Cleveland for third place in the East.
Anthony Tolliver scored 25 points for the Pistons and was 7-of-8 from 3-point range. Detroit was without star forward Blake Griffin (bruised right ankle), and the 76ers were missing center Joel Embiid (concussion, orbital fracture).
Redick scored 13 points in the first quarter, and backup big man Richaun Holmes had back-to-back dunks to give Philadelphia an 18-17 advantage. An alley-oop to Holmes put the 76ers up 36-28 after one. Redick finished 10-of-13 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.
Heat 115, Hawks 86 — Kelly Olynyk scored 19 points, including 15 on five 3-pointers when Miami took the lead for good in the second period of a win in Atlanta, capping a sweep of back-toback games between Southeast Division rivals.
Miami rested Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic and James Johnson one day after clinching a playoff berth by beating the Hawks in Miami.
Magic 105, Mavericks 100 — Rookie Jamel Artis had 18 points for his second straight career high to help host Orlando beat depleted Dallas.
Artis was coming off a 16-point game Tuesday night in a victory at New York.
Aaron Gordon led the Magic with 20 points without playing in the fourth quarter.
Pelicans 123, Grizzlies 95 — E’Twaun Moore scored 30 points, and Anthony Davis had 28 points and 12 rebounds in a return to form to help host New Orleans rout Memphis.
Davis struggled in the previous two games after twisting an ankle in a loss to Portland on March 27. In subsequent losses to Cleveland and Oklahoma City, he averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds while making 39 percent of his shots. For the season, Davis has averaged 28.1 points and 11.1 rebounds while making 53.5 percent of his shots.
Elsewhere in the NBA — Tyronn Lue is rejoining the Cleveland Cavaliers’ disjointed season. The coach is expected to return from a medical absence and be back on the bench tonight against Washington.