There were also wins last night for the Cavaliers, Thunder, Hawks, Pelicans and Magic.
Jayson Tatum (c) of the Boston Celtics in action against Chimezie Metu (i) and Keon Ellis (r) of the Sacramento Kings, at the Golden 1 Center, in Sacramento, California (USA), this March 21 of 2023.
Photo: JOHN G. MABANGLO
The Philadelphia 76ers mathematically qualified this Tuesday for the Eastern playoffs thanks to the defeat of the Brooklyn Nets at the Cleveland Cavaliers field, in an NBA day in which the Boston Celtics gave a test of strength in the Sacramento Kings field with 36 points from a Jayson Tatum who equaled Larry Bird with 39 games over thirty points in a season.
The day was also marked by the dangerous injury of Paul George, star of the Los Angeles Clippers, who suffered a dangerous hyperextension in his right knee in the game lost by his team against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
KINGS 109 – CELTICS 132
In a clash between seconds from the West and the East, the Celtics triumphed with authority in Sacramento led by the 36 points of a stellar Jayson Tatum and by the 27 of Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics, who are already mathematically qualified for the ‘playoffs’, closed their tour away from Boston with a 4-2 record. The Kings suffered their second consecutive defeat, despite a new triple double by Domantas Sabonis, with 16 points, thirteen rebounds and twelve assists.
NETS 109 – CAVALIERS 115
With 31 points from Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers sealed their fourth position in the East at the cost of some Nets in free fall, who suffered their fourth consecutive defeat and continue in the fight with the Miami Heat to retain sixth place, which gives direct access to the playoffs.
The Spanish Ricky Rubio contributed eight points, an assist and a steal in 19 minutes on the track for the Cavaliers.
The loss to the Nets gave the 76ers a place in the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.
CLIPPERS 100 – THUNDER 101
In the fourth quarter, George hyperextended his right knee after an unintentional collision with Luguentz Dort in a fight for a rebound and ended up lying on the ground in visible pain. The images from the Crypto.com Arena cameras showed how his knee bent backwards unnaturally.
After a few minutes on the ground, George got up with the help of Clippers medical staff and limped back to the locker room. He had 18 points and was leading the Clippers in a game that ended in a 101-100 victory for the Thunder.
The Thunder (36-36) reached seventh place in the West, tied with the Dallas Mavericks and continued their good form.
Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers remains on the floor after sustaining a knee injury against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA, on March 21, 2023.
Photo: CAROLINE BREHMAN
HAWKS 129 – PISTONS 107
With an excellent second half, in which they sealed a 16-0 run, the Hawks imposed their law at home against the Pistons, bottom of the East, to maintain their eighth position in the East (36-36), ahead of the raptors.
Trae Young shined with thirty points and twelve assists and Clint Capela contributed a double double of twelve points and 16 rebounds. Bogdan Bogdanovic had 18 points and was the protagonist from the arc in a great third period.
PELICANS 119 – SPURS 84
The Pelicans crushed a Spurs already focused on the next season pushed by Brandon Ingram’s 31 points and by a powerful double double of 19 points and fifteen rebounds, with five assists, from Jonas Valanciunas.
Those from New Orleans, in which the Spanish Willy Hernangómez contributed seven points and three rebounds in 4.48 minutes, keep up with the Lakers (both with a 35-37 record) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (36-37) for tenth place , which gives access to the ‘play-in’.
MAGIC 122 – WIZARDS 112
The Wizards suffered their third consecutive defeat and remained eleventh in the East, two victories behind the Bulls and with one more game, when they fell in the field of the Magic before the 22 points of Gary Harris and the 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists from the Italian Paolo Banchero.
For the Wizards, the Latvian Kristaps Porzingis signed thirty points.
. Classifications:
. Eastern Conference:
.1. Milwaukee Bucks 51-20
.2. Boston Celtics 50-23
.3. Philadelphia 76ers 48-23
.4. Cleveland Cavaliers 46-28
.5. New York Knicks 42-31
.6. Brooklyn Nets 39-33
.7. Miami Heat 39-34
.8. Atlanta Hawks 36-36
.9. Toronto Raptors 35-37
10. Chicago Bulls 34-37
11. Indiana Pacers 32-40
12. Washington Wizards 32-40
13. Orlando Magic 30-43
14. Charlotte Hornets 23-50
15. Detroit Pistons 16-57
. Western Conference:
.1. Denver Nuggets 48-24
.2. Memphis Grizzlies 44-27
.3. Sacramento Kings 43-29
.4. Phoenix Suns 38-33
.5. LA Clippers 38-35
.6. Golden State Warriors 37-36
.7. Oklahoma City Thunder 36-36
.8. Dallas Mavericks 36-36
.9. Minnesota Timberwolves 36-37
10. Utah Jazz 35-36
11. Los Angeles Lakers 35-37
12. New Orleans Pelicans 35-37
13. Portland Trail Blazers 31-40
14. San Antonio Spurs 19-53
15. Houston Rockets 18-54
