Nba results, Lakers another knockout. The Suns break Miami and fly to the playoffs

Phoenix finds Devin Booker, wins in Miami and is the first team to arithmetically win a place in the Playoffs. Bad defeat for the Los Angeles Lakers, who lose badly in extra time against Houston. Nightmare overtime for the yellow-violet. A formidable Nikola Jokic (38 points and 18 rebounds) in Denver’s success in Sacramento, while Luka Doncic (31 points) fails to avoid the internal debacle of his Mavs against New York. Good Boston (Tatum 44 points) and Chicago (DeRozan 36) away, while Minnesota overtook Oklahoma City with 11 triples from a wild Malik Beasley. Finally, Gregg Popovich’s all-time record of victories postponed. His Spurs, in fact, were defeated at the AT&T Center by the Toronto Raptors.

Miami Heat-Phoenix Suns 90-111

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The Suns arithmetically win the playoffs, the first franchise to do so. In style, winning the match away between the top teams of their respective Conferences. The return of Devin Booker from the Covid protocol after 4 games of absence – it was asymptomatic – immediately pays dividends: 23 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. Especially Phoenix forces the Heat (44-23) to 39.8% shooting, defending strong and earning the compliments of Coach Williams. Miami, who had beaten the Suns by 23 points in January, was without Butler (sinusitis) and lost Martin to injury (left knee). Miami scores 25 points in the first 6 minutes, but then gets lost, dominated by last season’s finalists.

You love me: Robinson 22 (1/4, 6/11 of three, 2/3 tl), Herro / Adebayo 17. Rebounds: Adebayo / Tucker 6. Assists: Lowry 10.

Phoenix: Booker 23 (3/5, 4/7 of three, 5/5 tl), Bridges 21, Ayton 19. Rebounds: Ayton 10. Assists: Payne 10.

Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Lakers 139-130 aet

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The Lakers’ ordeal continues. This time they lose in extra time in Houston against the team with the second worst record in the league (17-49). They do so by suffering even 19 points in overtime, the first 10 in a row, without putting a hand in defense. The freshman Green goes crazy, closes with 32 points, personal best. For the Californians (28-37) James’s triple double is not enough, whose 2 blocks at the end of regular time seemed to be able to propitiate the host success, but Melo’s placing on the siren breaks on the iron. Westbrook’s fair game, 30 points after public complaints about the insults received by the fans, unhappy with his performance. Russ forces the offensive rebound that guarantees him the last possession of the first 48 ‘, but still messes too much in the sprint.

Houston: Green 32 (9/14, 4/7 of three, 2/2 tl), Sengun / Christopher 21. Rebounds: Sengun 15. Assists: Porter 10.

LA Lakers: Westbrook 30 (10/19, 1/3 of three, 7/8 tl), James 23, Monk 20. Rebounds: James 14. Assists: James 12.

Dallas Mavericks- New York Knicks 77-107

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Julius Randle returns to the city where he was born and raised, signs 26 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and takes his Knicks (28-38) in triumph. Heavy defeat for the Dallas Mavericks (40-26), horrible in the 1st half (under 61-34 at the interval) and able to consecutively miss the first 19 three-point shots of their game. In the end, the embarrassing percentage from the Texan arc was 13.6% (6/44). In the 3rd quarter the usual Luka Doncic tried to mend the tear, signing 17 of his 31 total points, but the Mavs reached the maximum on -14. The last period of just 12 points scored then definitively drowned Jason Kidd’s team, simply unrecognizable. Well New York, the 3rd victory in a row after a crisis that seemed to never end. Knicks effective especially in the defensive half, essential to photograph the mood of the team of coach Tom Thibodeau.

Dallas: Doncic 31 (12/25, 3/11 of three, 4/7 tl), Dinwiddie 13, Finney-Smith 8. Rebounds: Bullock 7. Assists: Doncic 4.

New York: Randle 26 (8/19, 3/7 of three, 7/10 tl), Barrett 18, Burks 15. Rebounds: Robinson 11. Assists: Quickley 6.

Sacramento Kings- Denver Nuggets 100-106

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A formidable Nikola Jokic ensures the 12th victory in the last 14 for his Denver Nuggets (40-26), now very much on the way to qualification for the Playoffs. For the reigning MVP 38 points, 18 rebounds and 7 assists (plus 2 blocks and 1 recovery) and a dominant performance, almost superhuman beauty. Sacramento couldn’t do anything to limit it. Jokic is bigger than the game right now and, arguably, he deserves to win the most coveted individual award again. Denver took a big risk against Sacramento (24-44), throwing away an accumulated +18 in the 2nd quarter, but then found herself when the game was to be won. Grandiose Monte Morris, an ordinance fan and a very heavy 3-point play in the final.

Sacrament: Fox 32 (12/23, 4/6 of three, 4/4 tl), Barnes 17, Lyles 14. Rebounds: Lyles 9. Assists: Fox 10.

Denver: Jokic 38 (15/24, 0/2 of three, 8/9 tl), Morris 20, Forbes / Gordon 11. Rebounds: Jokic 18. Assist: Jokic 7.

San Antonio Spurs-Toronto Raptors 104-119

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Nothing to do for coach Pop. The record every era of victories that would make him the most successful manager in NBA history has to wait, at least another game. His San Antonio Spurs (25-41) will try again on Friday in the home game against Utah. This was won by the Raptors (35-30), highly motivated by the historicity of the match and by the return to the field after 5 games of absence of All Star Fred VanVleet, decisive with 26 points (7/15 shooting, 9/10 to the free). Five players in double figures for the Canadians, including Siakam and Barnes both at 20, who shot with 48% from the field and 37% from three. San Antonio arrived at -5 at the beginning of the 4th period (91-86) but then collected a 9-0 run that put the game on ice.

San Antonio: Johnson 27 (10/19, 3/9 of three, 4/4 tl), Murray 25, Walker IV 13. Rebounds: Poeltl 12. Assists: Murray 12.

Toronto: VanVleet 26 (7/15, 3/8 of three, 9/10 tl), Siakam 20, Barnes 20. Rebounds: Barnes 8. Assist: Banton 4.

Charlotte Hornets-Boston Celtics 101-115

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Fourth win in a row for the Celtics (40-27), still in the sign of Tatum. Who after scoring 54 points against the Nets, places 44 at the Hornets home (32-35), 16 decisive in the last quarter. Boston has won 15 of their last 17 games played. Charlotte had just been victimized by Irving, another superb performance from a solo opponent complicates Coach Borrego’s boys’ Play-in grid position, 9th East.

Charlotte: Washington / Bridges 17, Ball 15. Rebounds: Plumlee 15. Assist: Plumlee 6.

Boston: Tatum 44 (10/15, 6/9 of three, 6/6 tl), Brown 15. Smart 12. Rebounds: R. Williams 11. Assists: Smart 9.

Detroit Pistons-Chicago Bulls 108-114

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DeRozan dragged Chicago (40-26) to success after 5 consecutive defeats by scoring 16 of his 36 points in the last quarter, dominated 30-17 by the Bulls. Who pass to Detroit while scoring just 3 triples. For the Pistons (18-48), returning from 3 successes in a row, the 22 points of Cunningham, the first absolute choice of the last Draft, are not enough.

Detroit: Cunningham 22 (7/12, 2/3 of three, 2/2 tl), Grant / Bey / Olynyk 12. Rebounds: Bagley 6. Assists: Cunningham / Bey 6.

Chicago: DeRozan 36 (12/24, 0/1 of three, 12/13 tl), LaVine 25, Vucevic 21. Rebounds: DeRozan 8. Assists: Dosunmu 7.

Minnesota Timberwolves-Oklahoma City Thunder 132-102

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Beasley’s unforgettable evening gives Wolves (38-29) their sixth consecutive victory. Malik scores 11 triples, a franchise record, out of 17 attempts. He doesn’t take 2-point shots and doesn’t go to the line: he only “shows off” from long distance. He is enough and advances with the Thunder (20-46) who pay for the evening of 2/15 of Gilgeous-Alexander: he closes with only 8 points.

Minnesota: Beasley 33 (11/17 of three), Prince 17, Edwards 16. Rebounds: Towns 11. Assists: Russell 12.

Oklahoma City: Wiggins 25 (4/11, 5/8 of three, 2/3 tl), Roby 15, Bazley 14. Rebounds: Maledon 7. Assist: Gilgeous-Alexander 8.

Los Angeles Clippers-Washington Wizards 115-109

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A triple from Nicolas Batum at 31.2 ” from the siren certifies the internal success of the Los Angeles Clippers (35-33) over Washington (29-35). A triple built very well by the Clips, inspired by Reggie Jackson, the best of him with 31 points, finished by Terance Mann and finalized by the French. Very tight game, decided by 11 consecutive points of the hosts in the last 2 ‘. Wizards, who after Caldwell-Pope’s 109-104 basket with 2:37 on the clock of the 4th period, did not score anymore.

LA Clippers: Jackson 31 (12/21, 5/9 of three, 2/2 tl), Morris 27, Kennard 19. Rebounds: Zubac 9. Assists: Jackson 7.

Washington: Porzingis 19 (8/14, 2/5 of three, 1/1 tl), Hachimura 18, Kuzma 17. Rebounds: Gafford 10. Assists: Smith 8.

Utah Jazz-Portland Trail Blazers 123-85

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A simple training match that of the Utah Jazz (41-24) against Portland (25-40), who came to Salt Lake City on a school trip. Coach Quin Snyder made all 15 available players play and, more importantly, he administered his owners by keeping them on the court only for the time necessary to file the practice. Great performance by Bojan Bogdanovic, who still managed to score 27 points in 24 ‘, shooting 9/14 from the field and 6/9 from three. The Jazz also hit +51 in the 3rd quarter. Unpresentable blazers.

Utah: Bogdanovic 27 (9/14, 6/9 of three, 3/4 tl), Mitchell 16, O’Neale 11. Rebounds: O’Neale 10. Assist: Mitchell 6.

Portland: Watford 22 (6/14, 1/4 of three, 9/9 tl), Johnson 15, Elleby 10. Rebounds: Eubanks 7. Assists: Johnson 5.

New Orleans Pelicans-Orlando Magic 102-108

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Resounding slip of the Pelicans (27-39) who lose at home against the team with the worst NBA record, the Magic (17-50). But New Orleans without Brandon Ingram (muscle problem) becomes vulnerable to anyone. McCollum and Valanciunas ‘good scoring tests are not enough, Ross’s 12 points in the last quarter make the difference for the guests and complicate the Pels’ way to the Play-In.

New Orleans: McCollum 32 (11/16, 3/11 of three, 1/3 tl), Valanciunas 30, Jones 15. Rebounds: Valanciunas 15. Assist: McCollum 8.

Orlando: Anthony 19 (3/3, 3/6 of three, 4/4 tl), Harris 16. F. Wagner 15. Rebounds: M. Wagner 9. Assists: Anthony / Carter 5.