NBA
The Pelicans beat the Knicks and hope for the playoffs, wins for the Celtics and Sixers
The Pelicans continued their wild run, beating the Knicks 113-105 to stay alive in the hunt for a playoff spot. The Celtics easily beat the Raptors, the Sixers second team beat the Hawks.
4th win in the last 5 games is a fact for the Pelicans who defeated the decimated Knicks 113-105 and improved their record to 42-39 and stayed in 8th place in the West. They kept their hopes of making the playoffs alive, although they’ll need a lot of help from…every team above them (Warriors, Clippers, Lakers) to do so.
Trey Murphy led by 31 points, CJ McCollum added 23 points and Brandon Ingram added 18 points (on 6/15 shooting).
For the Knicks, ARJ Barrett had 28 points (but 11/25 shooting and 0/9 three-pointers) and Immanuel Quickley had 24 points.
THE DODECALPTA: 27-30, 60-60, 83-83, 113-105
Celtics – Raptors 121-102
The Raptors were the team motivated in the game against the Celtics as they stayed alive with a win in the 8th place fight. But the Celtics were the ones who eventually – and comfortably – won 121-102, sending them 9th in the East and over the Bulls in the play-in tournament.
Sam Houser led with 26 points on 6/12 3-point shooting with Jayson Tatum adding 21 points and having no contest in the second half.
In the Raptors, Pascal Siakam had 19 points and Precious Atsua had 16 points.
THE DODECALPTA: 34-16, 68-40, 95-73, 121-102
Falcons – Sixers 131-136
The Sixers rested their starting five in Atlanta. Still, they eventually found a way to eke out a 131-136 win over the – full – Hawks in overtime. For Atlanta, however, the defeat is of no consequence, because after the Raptors lost in Boston, they secured 8th place in the East and the matchup with the Heat in the play-in.
George Niang and Jaylen McDaniels each had 24 points for the winners, with Danwell House adding 22 points.
For the Hawks, Trae Young had 27 points and 20 assists (but also 9 turnovers) and John Collins and Dejude Marie each had 19 points.
THE DODECALPTA: 31-32, 63-53, 90-86, 119-119, 131-136
Wizard – run 114-108
The Heat knew they had virtually no hope of qualifying for the playoffs, which was confirmed after the Nets defeated the Magic. So they lined up with their substitutes in Washington and watched the Wizards substitutes – who have been out for the season for weeks – win 114-108.
Daniel Gafford led with 22 points, with Corey Kispert adding 19 points.
For the heat, Victor Oladipo had 30 points and Cody Zeller had 17 points.
THE DODECALPTA: 26-23, 53-51, 89-71, 114-108
Pacemaker – Pistons 115-122
The Pistons have been winning about once a month since February. That day of the month would come in Indiana when the Pistons would beat the Pacers 115-122 for their third win since the All Star Break in a historic tanking en route to the NBA’s worst record.
Jaden Ivey was the top scorer for the winners with 29 points while Killian Hayes added 28 points.
With the Pacers, Buddy Hield had 22 points and Benedict Mathurin had 16 points.
THE DODECALPTA: 27-35, 57-73, 87-96, 115-122
Source: sport 24
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