By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
The Phoenix Suns reached the 60-win mark after outlasting the Denver Nuggets on the road Thursday 140-130 to secure the top spot in the Western Conference.
This feat was accompanied by a season-high by Devin Booker, who scored a double-double with 49 points and 10 assists to lead his team, while Chris Paul returned to action with a double-double of his own with 17 points and 13 assists. Mikal Bridges tapped 22 points and Deandre Ayton followed with 16 points and 7 rebounds for the Suns.
Nikola Jokic picked up 28 points, six rebounds, and six assists for the Nuggets, Bones Hyland added 23 points whilst coming from the bench and Aaron Gordon had 21 points.
In the wake of Ja Morant’s absence, Desmond Bane continued his hot scoring streak to lead the Memphis Grizzlies past the Indiana Pacers 133-103 and secure a playoffs spot in West. Bane scored 30 points to lead five more players in double digits. Jaren Jackson added 20 points and Deanthony Melton had 19 points and six rebounds. On the other end of the court, Lance Stephenson led the Pacers with 25 points, Terry Taylor added 17 and Goga Bitadze had 14 points and four rebounds.
Jrue Holiday scored 24 points along with 10 assists and Grayson Allen picked up 21 points and the Giannis-less Milwaukee Bucks prevailed over the Washington Wizards 114-102 at home to win their second straight game. Ish Smith had 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists to pace the Wizards, Kristaps Porzingis followed with 16 points and 9 rebounds and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also dropped 16 points.
The battle for an immediate playoffs seed in the Eastern Conference heated up with the Toronto Raptors overcoming the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-104 at home. Pascal Siakam paced the efforts of the Raptors with 35 points, Chris Boucher tapped 17 points and 8 rebounds from the bench and OG Anunoby added 14 points. Despite the defeat, the Cavs still win the tiebreaker (both teams are currently at 41-32) as they lead the regular-season series 3-1. Lauri Markkanen was the leading scorer for the Cavs with 20 points, 5 rebounds, Darius Garland had 18 and Kevin Love posted a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds.
Devonte Graham and CJ McCollum combined for 55 points to help the New Orleans Pelicans bounce back with a 126-109 victory against the Chicago Bulls. Graham dropped 30 points, McCollum followed with 25 and the Pelicans hold on to clinch a play-in berth in the Western Conference. Zach LaVine scored 39 points, Coby White picked up 23 and Nikola Vucevic added 16 points and 9 rebounds for the Bulls which have now lost their second game in a row.
NBA March 24 results:
Toronto Raptors – Cleveland Cavaliers 117-104
Memphis Grizzlies – Indiana Pacers 133-103
Milwaukee Bucks – Washington Wizards 114-102
New Orleans Pelicans – Chicago Bulls 126-109
Denver Nuggets – Phoenix Suns 130-140
NBA standings (via nba.com)
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 26 | .644 | — | 30-14 | 11-2 | 26-10 | 21-16 | 1-3 | 6-4 | L 2 | |
|
2 Milwaukee Bucks |
46 | 27 | .630 | 1 | 28-18 | 10-3 | 26-12 | 20-15 | 0-2 | 8-2 | W 2 |
| 45 | 27 | .625 | 1.5 | 27-17 | 6-9 | 21-16 | 24-11 | 3-1 | 6-4 | W 2 | |
| 46 | 28 | .622 | 1.5 | 30-16 | 9-6 | 25-12 | 21-16 | 4-2 | 9-1 | W 5 | |
|
5 Chicago Bulls |
42 | 31 | .575 | 5 | 27-18 | 9-5 | 26-10 | 16-21 | 0-1 | 3-7 | L 2 |
|
6 Cleveland Cavaliers |
41 | 32 | .562 | 6 | 24-20 | 9-5 | 23-13 | 18-19 | 2-0 | 5-5 | L 2 |
|
7 Toronto Raptors |
41 | 32 | .562 | 6 | 25-20 | 8-5 | 18-16 | 23-16 | 2-2 | 7-3 | W 1 |
| 38 | 35 | .521 | 9 | 26-18 | 9-6 | 16-19 | 22-16 | 2-0 | 6-4 | L 1 | |
| 37 | 36 | .507 | 10 | 22-23 | 6-7 | 19-18 | 18-18 | 0-7 | 7-3 | L 1 | |
| 36 | 37 | .493 | 11 | 22-24 | 8-6 | 23-14 | 13-23 | 0-1 | 5-5 | L 1 | |
| 31 | 42 | .425 | 16 | 16-27 | 4-10 | 15-21 | 16-21 | 1-2 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
|
12 Washington Wizards |
30 | 42 | .417 | 16.5 | 22-23 | 6-7 | 18-18 | 12-24 | 3-1 | 2-8 | L 2 |
|
13 Indiana Pacers – o |
25 | 49 | .338 | 22.5 | 11-34 | 2-13 | 16-21 | 9-28 | 4-4 | 3-7 | L 2 |
|
14 Detroit Pistons – o |
20 | 53 | .274 | 27 | 16-29 | 5-9 | 12-24 | 8-29 | 3-1 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
15 Orlando Magic – o |
20 | 54 | .270 | 27.5 | 10-35 | 2-11 | 10-26 | 10-28 | 0-3 | 4-6 | L 1 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 Phoenix Suns – w |
60 | 14 | .811 | — | 36-9 | 8-4 | 30-8 | 30-6 | 2-0 | 9-1 | W 7 |
|
2 Memphis Grizzlies – x |
51 | 23 | .689 | 9 | 32-14 | 9-5 | 26-10 | 25-13 | 2-1 | 8-2 | W 3 |
| 48 | 25 | .658 | 11.5 | 28-17 | 10-3 | 29-9 | 19-16 | 0-2 | 5-5 | W 1 | |
| 45 | 28 | .616 | 14.5 | 29-15 | 13-1 | 26-11 | 19-17 | 1-0 | 5-5 | L 2 | |
| 45 | 28 | .616 | 14.5 | 32-15 | 13-2 | 25-12 | 20-16 | 1-2 | 7-3 | W 2 | |
|
6 Denver Nuggets |
43 | 31 | .581 | 17 | 26-20 | 5-9 | 21-15 | 22-16 | 3-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 42 | 32 | .568 | 18 | 28-20 | 11-4 | 24-13 | 18-19 | 2-1 | 7-3 | L 2 | |
|
8 LA Clippers |
36 | 38 | .486 | 24 | 21-26 | 7-7 | 20-15 | 16-23 | 0-3 | 3-7 | L 4 |
|
9 New Orleans Pelicans |
31 | 42 | .425 | 28.5 | 20-23 | 6-8 | 17-20 | 14-22 | 1-2 | 4-6 | W 1 |
| 31 | 42 | .425 | 28.5 | 16-27 | 3-11 | 20-18 | 11-24 | 7-2 | 3-7 | L 1 | |
| 29 | 44 | .397 | 30.5 | 19-24 | 4-8 | 14-23 | 15-21 | 1-3 | 5-5 | W 2 | |
| 27 | 45 | .375 | 32 | 11-31 | 1-12 | 17-19 | 10-26 | 0-1 | 2-8 | L 1 | |
| 26 | 48 | .351 | 34 | 17-29 | 5-8 | 16-23 | 10-25 | 1-1 | 3-7 | W 1 | |
| 21 | 52 | .288 | 38.5 | 14-31 | 4-8 | 10-27 | 11-25 | 3-1 | 1-9 | W 1 | |
|
15 Houston Rockets – o |
18 | 55 | .247 | 41.5 | 9-37 | 3-12 | 11-25 | 7-30 | 2-1 | 3-7 | L 1 |
*w – clinched Western Conference
*x – clinched playoffs berth
*o – eliminated from playoffs contention
Photo credit: Getty Images