Only one postseason spot remains in the NBA playoff race, but a Portland Trail Blazers loss means the Western Conference isn’t decided quite yet.
Early on Saturday, the Los Angeles Clippers upended the Blazers. Combined with a Phoenix Suns win over the Miami Heat, the West is likely headed to a play-in tournament. The lingering question, though, is whether it will be Portland, Phoenix, San Antonio Spurs or New Orleans Pelicans.
But as that resolution waits in the future, we’re reviewing what happened in Saturday’s action around the league.
Los Angeles Clippers 122, Portland Trail Blazers 117
CJ McCollum (POR): 29 PTS, 8 AST
Damian Lillard (POR): 22 PTS, 5 AST
Paul George (LAC): 21 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST
Four players eclipsed 20 points for the Blazers, but a balanced offensive effort carried the Clippers past Portland.
Paul George paced LA with 21 points, and five more contributed 12 or more. Rodney McGruder drilled a go-ahead three in the closing minute, and the Clippers sealed the victory with a pair of free throws from both JaMychal Green and Landry Shamet.
The loss stung Portland, however.
“We’ve got to do a better job of executing and putting them away earlier,” CJ McCollum said, per Joe Freeman of Oregon Live.
Although the Blazers are still in a respectable spot to force a play-in tournament with Memphis, the Spurs, Pelicans and Suns are each within a game of Portland.
Denver Nuggets 134, Utah Jazz 132 (2OT)
Nikola Jokic (DEN): 30 PTS, 11 REB, 7 AST
Jamal Murray (DEN): 23 PTS, 12 REB, 8 AST
Donovan Mitchell (UTA): 35 PTS, 8 AST
Utah held a 14-point halftime lead, but Denver fought back and earned an overtime win in this key seeding game.
Nikola Jokic scored 30 points, and both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. added 23 for the Nuggets. With the victory, Denver moved two games ahead of the Houston Rockets and three in front of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Jazz.
Since only three games remain in the regular-season portion of the bubble, Denver now finds itself in a great position to secure the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
And, best of all for Denver, Murray returned from injury, played beyond his expected role and felt comfortable with it.
“I was only supposed to play 22,” he said. “It’s cool. I like challenges and it feels a lot better now that we got the win.”
Indiana Pacers 116, Los Angeles Lakers 111
T.J. Warren (IND): 39 PTS, 5 REB
LeBron James (LAL): 31 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST
Malcolm Brogdon (IND): 24 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB
This is kind of getting ridiculous, right? It’s about to rename the bubble the “T.J. Qwarrenntine.”
Warren has eclipsed the 30-point mark four times in five games, and his 39 points against the Lakers is the second-most of this torrid stretch. He knocked down five three-pointers, and the Pacers collectively buried 15 of their 33 three-point attempts.
“I just feel like I’m in a groove offensively, defensively,” Warren said after the win. “I feel like as a team we’re grooving right now. We’ve just got to keep it up.”
Fortunately for the Lakers, the result didn’t affect their standing because they’ve clinched the No. 1 seed in the West. But the Pacers moved into a tie with the Miami Heat for No. 4 in the East.
Phoenix Suns 119, Miami Heat 112
Devin Booker (PHO): 35 PTS, 6 AST
Tyler Herro (MIA): 25 PTS, 10 AST, 8 REB
Duncan Robinson (MIA): 25 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST
Someone cool down the Suns, or some other bad joke.
Pun not intended but unavoidable, Phoenix has emerged as the hottest team in the bubble. Even without a three-pointer from Devin Booker amid his 35-point performance, the Suns outlasted the Heat and improved to 5-0 in Florida.
“I think this bubble opportunity was big for us and we’re taking advantage of it,” Booker said.
Phoenix closes the regular season with the Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks. If the Suns can jump San Antonio and New Orleans in the standings, they’ll have a shot to bounce the Grizzlies before the playoffs officially begin.
Dallas Mavericks 136, Milwaukee Bucks 132 (OT)
Luka Doncic (DAL): 36 PTS, 19 AST, 14 REB
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 34 PTS, 13 REB, 5 BLK
Brook Lopez (MIL): 34 PTS, 7 REB
Luka Doncic is just absurd. We can start there and move on, but it’s a necessary point to mention.
Mavs head coach says Doncic is in ‘same mold’ as Larry Bird and Jason Kidd
League is considering splitting teams into groups to play at regional sites for 2020-2021 season
The tables have turned as PG and Pat Bev are contenders, while Lillard is barely hanging on
Lillard on Beverley yelling ‘Dame Time’ after his missed FTs: ‘To me, that just shows what they expect from me’