Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons eliminated, Cleveland Cavaliers seal second seeding in Eastern Conference
The Phoenix Suns and the Detroit Pistons were eliminated from NBA play-off contention, while the San Antonio Spurs won nine straight.
The Cleveland Cavaliers sewed up the Eastern Conference’s second seeding, and the Central division title in the NBA on Wednesday.
The Cavs’ 104-99 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks saw them assured of second place behind Conference champions the Atlanta Hawks.
Kyrie Irving led the way for Cleveland with 27 points and nine assists, while LeBron James (21 points, nine rebounds, eight assists) and Kevin Love (16 points, 11 rebounds) were also influential.
Michael Carter-Williams scored a game-high 30 points in a losing cause for the Bucks (38-40), who remain in sixth spot in the East despite consecutive losses.
Milwaukee, the Boston Celtics (36-42) and the Brooklyn Nets (36-42) are the only sides in the East’s top eight that are yet to seal a post-season place.
Also in contention in the East are the Indiana Pacers (35-43), the Miami Heat (35-43), and the Charlotte Hornets (33-45).
Continuing their winning run were the San Antonio Spurs, the NBA champions making it nine victories in succession with a 110-98 result over the Houston Rockets.
The Spurs’ Tony Parker posted 13 first-quarter points on his way to a game-high 27, while Dwight Howard (16 points, 11 rebounds) had a double-double for the losing Rockets.
The Phoenix Suns were eliminated from play-off contention, after their 107-104 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Also out of the post-season race on Wednesday were the Detroit Pistons, humbled 113-103 by the Celtics.
Phoenix’s exit from the race for post-season places in the Western Conference leaves just the New Orleans Pelicans and the Oklahoma City Thunder fighting for the eighth and final spot.
The Pelicans were pummelled 110-74 by the Memphis Grizzlies but remain eighth – level on a 42-36 record with the ninth-placed Thunder with four games to play.
Sim Bhullar became the first player of Indian descent to represent an NBA franchise, playing one minute and 22 seconds of the Sacramento Kings’ 103-91 loss to the Utah Jazz.
Bhullar went one-from-two from the field, and also collected a rebound in his short stint.
The Toronto Raptors moved above the Chicago Bulls into third in the East, after a 92-74 victory over the Hornets, while the Bulls were edged 105-103 by the Orlando Magic.
The Washington Wizards sit just one game behind the Raptors – who are level on a 46-32 record with the Bulls – after their fourth straight victory saw them down the Philadelphia 76ers 119-90.
A dunk from Al Horford in the dying stages helped the Hawks to a 114-111 win over the Nets.
The Pacers trumped the New York Knicks 102-86, and the Denver Nuggets were too good for the Los Angeles Lakers 119-101.
No comments:
Post a Comment