Devin Booker scored 52 factors towards the New Orleans Pelicans for the second time this season and the visiting Phoenix Suns tightened the Western Conference playoff race with a 124-111 victory on Monday evening.
Kevin Durant added 20 factors, Jusuf Nurkic had 19 factors and 19 rebounds, and Bradley Beal scored 13 factors because the Suns pulled inside one sport of the Pelicans for sixth place within the convention — the ultimate assured playoff spot.
The Suns, which defeated the host Pelicans 123-109 again when Booker first dropped 52 factors on Jan. 19, clinched the season sequence with one sport remaining. The groups will meet on Sunday in Phoenix.
Zion Williamson scored 30 factors, Trey Murphy III had 21 and CJ McCollum had 15 for New Orleans.
Celtics 118, Hornets 104
Jayson Tatum scored 25 factors and Sam Hauser sank seven 3-pointers off the bench to additionally rating 25 as Boston accomplished a stable street journey with a win in Charlotte.
Kristaps Porzingis added 20 factors for the NBA-leading Celtics, who went 4-2 on their final multi-game journey of the common season. They outscored the Hornets 57-39 from past the arc.
Miles Bridges scored 26 factors and Grant Williams, who was within the beginning lineup, had 23 for Charlotte, which fell for the eighth time in 9 video games.
Magic 104, Trail Blazers 103
All 5 Orlando starters scored at the very least 14 factors, led by Franz Wagner’s 20, and the Magic averted a probably main blow of their race for playoff positioning by holding off visiting Portland.
Portland got here into Orlando on a nine-game shedding streak, together with a 60-point blowout its final outing at Miami. However, the Blazers had a shot at gorgeous the Magic because the buzzer sounded.
Deandre Ayton’s 12-foot jumper after a scramble for a unfastened ball fell brief as time expired, and Orlando survived after coughing up a 15-point, second-half lead. Ayton led the Trail Blazers with 20 factors and 12 rebounds.
Grizzlies 110, Pistons 108
Jaren Jackson Jr. poured in 40 factors as visiting Memphis edged Detroit.
Jackson additionally contributed seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks for the Grizzlies, who had misplaced seven of their earlier eight video games. Luke Kennard added 19 factors and eight assists.
Cade Cunningham had 36 factors and eight assists for the Pistons, who took their ninth loss in 10 video games. Jaden Ivey tossed in 20 factors.
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Hawks 113, Bulls 101
Visiting Atlanta received 20 factors from Bogdan Bogdanovic to beat the Bulls and transfer to inside a half-game of Chicago, which holds the No. 9 spot within the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The Hawks shot 47.5 % on 3-point makes an attempt, 19 of 40, and had six gamers rating in double figures. Atlanta received for the fifth time in six video games.
Chicago was led by DeMar DeRozan with 31 factors, whereas Coby White added 22 factors. Ayo Dosunmu scored 15 because the Bulls misplaced for the fifth time in seven video games.
Pacers 133, Nets 111
Tyrese Haliburton posted a 27-point, 13-assist double-double to guide host Indiana previous Brooklyn in Indianapolis.
After giving up a pair of Brooklyn baskets, the Pacers settled into the sport with an 18-3 run that Haliburton completed with a three-point play to provide Indiana an 18-7 lead with 7:41 left within the first quarter. The Pacers by no means appeared again.
Pascal Siakam had 15 factors and 6 rebounds, whereas Aaron Nesmith chipped in 11 factors for Indiana. Cam Thomas paced the Nets with a team-high 22 factors.
