By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Victor Wembanyama had 40 points and 13 rebounds in his 65th game to become eligible for NBA awards, and that was pretty much the story of the night.
The Spurs beat the Mavericks 139-120, and the French star was present, while 168 players, according to ESPN, were missing or rested on a day when all 30 NBA teams were playing.
“If I had 65 before, I for sure wouldn’t have played,” Wembanyama said, coming off a bruised left rib injury.
Among those not available were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, who didn’t play in the game between the Thunder and the Nuggets. In most cases, the teams have already qualified for the playoffs or not, and they are preparing for the postseason with just one game left in the regular season.
Without Jokic present, Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas registered season highs of 23 points and 17 rebounds, as the Nuggets beat the Thunder 127-107.
For the losing side, Serb guard Nikola Topic also had a game to remember with 14 points and 11 assists.
Israeli Deni Avdija scored 35 points in the 116-97 win of the Blazers over the LA Clippers, as Portland hopes to finish 8th in the West with a win over the Sacramento Kings.
After last night’s results, the East standings are pretty much locked with Boston securing the second spot, New York being third, and Cleveland fourth. Atlanta and Toronto will be fighting for the fifth spot, but Atlanta has avoided dropping to the play-ins after beating Cleveland 124-102.
Friday results
Charlotte Hornets – Detroit Pistons 100-118
Washington Wizards – Miami Heat 117-140
Atlanta Hawks – Cleveland Cavaliers 124-102
Boston Celtics – New Orleans Pelicans 144-1118
Indiana Pacers – Philadelphia 76ers 94-105
New York Knicks – Toronto Raptors 112-95
Chicago Bulls – Orlando Magic 103-127
Milwaukee Bucks – Brooklyn Nets 125-108
San Antonio Spurs – Dallas Mavericks 139-120
Denver Nuggets – Oklahoma City Thunder 127-107
Houston Rockets – Minnesota Timberwolves 132-136
Utah Jazz – Memphis Grizzlies 147-101
Portland Trail Blazers – LA Clippers 116-97
Sacramento Kings – Golden State Warriors 124-118
LA Lakers – Phoenix Suns 101-73
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. x-Detroit Pistons 59-22
2. x-Boston Celtics 55-26
3. x-New York Knicks 53-28
4. x-Cleveland Cavaliers 51-30
5. x-Atlanta Hawks 46-35
6. Toronto Raptors 45-36
7. Orlando Magic 45-36
8. Philadelphia 76ers 44-37
9. y-Charlotte Hornets 43-38
10. y-Miami Heat 42-39
11. o-Milwaukee Bucks 32-49
12. o-Chicago Bulls 31-50
13. o-Brooklyn Nets 20-61
14. o-Indiana Pacers 19-62
15. o-Washington Wizards 17-64
Western Conference
1. x-Oklahoma City Thunder 64-17
2. x-San Antonio Spurs 62-19
3. x-Denver Nuggets 53-28
4. x-Los Angeles Lakers 52-29
5. x-Houston Rockets 51-30
6. x-Minnesota Timberwolves 48-33
7. y-Phoenix Suns 44-37
9. y-Portland Trail Blazers 41-40
8. y-Los Angeles Clippers 41-40
10. y-Golden State Warriors 37-44
11. o-New Orleans Pelicans 26-55
12. o-Memphis Grizzlies 25-56
13. o-Dallas Mavericks 25-56
14. o-Sacramento Kings 22-59
15. o-Utah Jazz 22-59
-Top six teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference enter the Play-Ins
x-clinched playoff berth
y-clinched play-in berth
o-eliminated