NBA playoffs defined: San Antonio loses against Jokic’s Nuggets and everything will be resolved on the last day

San Antonio Spurs surprised this Friday Denver Nuggetscurrent NBA champion, and shook the scene of the Western Conference, which is now led by the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Nuggets, one day before the end of the regular season.

The 30 franchises of the most important basketball league on the planet competed this Friday before taking a day off on Saturday and returning to the court The Sunday of the decisive day.

We will reach the final day even with situations of extreme equality Eastern Conferencein which Joel Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers threaten to directly qualify for the playoffs after winning Friday’s game against the Orlando Magic.

San Antonio Spurs 121-Denver Nuggets 120

Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets had just jumped to the top alone in the West thanks to the victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they squandered a 23-point lead and the defeat against the Spurs dropped them to third place, overtaken by the Wolves themselves and Oklahoma City’s Thunder.

The French Victor Wembanyama He returned after resting in the loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and was dominant. He finished the game with 34 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks.

Oklahoma City Thunder 125 – Milwaukee Bucks 107

Oklahoma took advantage of the Bucks, who didn’t have the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo nor with Damian Lillardand won by 26 points Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 23 points and 9 rebounds by Chet Holmgren.

In this way, one of this season’s surprising teams has positioned itself at the top of the West table, ahead of second-placed Wolves.

Minnesota Timberwolves 109-Atlanta Hawks 106

The Wolves suffered more than expected in their stadium against a rival who has already secured 10th place in the East. On a night in which Anthony Edwards he added only 14 points, the Frenchman Rudy Gobert He dominated with a double-double of 24 points and 19 rebounds. The Dominican Carlo Antonio City He returned after an 18-game injury absence and contributed 11 points and 8 assists in 27 minutes on the court.

Memphis Grizzlies 120-Los Angeles Lakers 123

Lebron James He was the protagonist of an amazing performance on the Grizzlies court and led the Lakers’ victory with 37 points and 9 rebounds. He had the support of Anthony Davis, who scored 36 points and 14 rebounds after missing the game against the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers put pressure on the Phoenix Suns for seventh place with one game left in the regular season.

Dallas Mavericks 89-Detroit Pistons 107

The Mavericks, without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, suffered a setback at home that caused them to miss an opportunity to overtake the Los Angeles Clippers in the standings, so they will face the Angelenos in the first round of the playoffs without home-court advantage.

Philadelphia 76ers 125-Orlando Magic 113

The 76ers earned their seventh straight win since the return of their leader. Joel Embiid. He thus joins Orlando in the fight for sixth place, thanks to a double double of 32 points and 13 rebounds from his star center. Tyrese Maxey He contributed 28 points for a team that went from sinking into the play-in positions to being one step away from directly entering the playoffs.

Philadelphia occupies seventh place in the East, so it should still play in the play-ins, while the Magic and Indiana Pacers, also with the same win-loss record (46-35), would directly enter the playoffs as fifth and sixth. seeds, respectively.

Hours before the game, the 76ers unveiled the statue of their legend Allen Iverson at their training facility.

New York Knicks 111-Brooklyn Nets 107

The Knicks recovered from a 30-13 first quarter loss to win the New York Derby for the fourth time in four meetings this year, which allowed them to catch up with the Bucks, second in the East. Milwaukee’s remain ahead with one match at the end having better results in head-to-head matches. Jalen Brunson He topped 30 points for the sixth straight game and led the victory with 30 points and 11 assists.

Sacramento Kings 107-Phoenix Suns 108

The Suns achieved an epochal victory on the Kings court, with 28 points from Kevin Durant and 21 from Devin Booker, and they reach the final day against the Pelicans, with whom they have better results in head-to-head matches. Sacramento succumbed despite 25 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists Domantas Sabonis.

Golden State Warriors 109-New Orleans Pelicans 114

After winning on the Kings’ pitch, the Pelicans scored another great victory, this time in San Francisco, and maintained, for the moment, sixth place in the West, which gives direct access to the playoffs.

CJ McCollum shined with 28 points, Zion Williamson scored 26 and Trey Murphy contributed 24 for the Pelicans. The Warriors, where Steph Curry scored 33 points, are 10th in the West.

Boston Celtics 131-Charlotte Hornets 98

One day after losing to the Knicks, the Celtics crushed the Hornets and added their 40th win in 44 home games despite competing without Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. Payton Prichard led the win with a double-double of 31 points and 11 assists.

Cleveland Cavaliers 129-Indiana Pacers 120

The Cavaliers defeated the Pacers by 33 points Donovan Mitchell and a double-double of 29 points and 13 rebounds Jarrett Allen. The loss left Indiana with the same record as Orlando and Philadelphia, and the fates of those three teams will be decided Sunday. One of them will have to go through the play-in.

Los Angeles Clippers 109-Utah Jazz 110

The Clippers, who are already mathematically fourth, lost at home to the Jazz on a night where Kawhi Leonard He was on vacation. Kenneth Lofton He was Utah’s leading scorer and nearly had a triple-double with 27 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.

Washington Wizards 127-Chicago Bulls 129

The Bulls, already confident of occupying ninth place in the East and playing for the play-in at home against the Atlanta Hawks, win in Washington, giving their starters some rest DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. Javonte Green was the winners’ leading scorer with 24 points.

Miami Heat 125 – Toronto Raptors 103

The Heat, eighth in the West, won with authority at the home of the Raptors, already out of the postseason for weeks, with 20 points and 9 assists from the Mexican J.Alas Jacques.

Portland Trail Blazers 107 – Houston Rockets 116

The Moda Center in Portland hosted a match between teams already eliminated from the postseason and the Rockets triumphed against the Blazers led by 26 points and 9 rebounds from Jalen Green.