Spurs’ great NBA playoff bustle ends, Grizzlies, Suns alive

Damian Lillard scored 42 points and came up with a key late steal as the Portland Trail Blazers edged the Brooklyn Nets 134-133 on Thursday to keep their NBA playoff hopes alive.” data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>Damian Lillard scored 42 parts and came up with a key tiresome resolve because the Portland Stir Blazers edged the Brooklyn Nets 134-133 on Thursday to grab their NBA playoff hopes alive.

Memphis Grizzlies for the final Western Conference playoff berth.” data-reactid=”33″ type=”text”>The scrappy, scintillating uncover assign the Blazers into a weekend play-in sequence with the Memphis Grizzlies for the last Western Convention playoff berth.

Caris LeVert, who led the playoff-bound Nets with 37 points, had a chance to deny them but missed a potential game-winning jump shot as time expired.” data-reactid=”34″ type=”text”>Caris LeVert, who led the playoff-sure Nets with 37 parts, had a giant gamble to disclaim them but neglected a doable game-winning soar shot as time expired.

“So we came out here and earned one other uncover,” said Lillard, who had scored a mixed 112 parts within the Blazers’ old two video games within the NBA’s season restart in a quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida.

“It feels higher going into the play-in game vivid that our eight video games we needed to work for — so we must be the set we’re going.”

Portland led by two with 1: 12 ultimate when Lillard ran down LeVert for a resolve. CJ McCollum, who scored 25 parts for the Blazers, followed with a soar shot that stretched Portland’s result in 134-130 with decrease than a minute to play.

LeVert replied with a 3-level play, but might well well not assign it away at the discontinue.

Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs.” data-reactid=”43″ type=”text”>No topic his most up-to-date offensive exploits, Lillard said he anticipated a stressful game from the Nets, who will face the reigning champion Toronto Raptors within the main round of the playoffs.

“I knew what we comprise been coming into tonight,” he said. “We weren’t going to realize wait on in and proper salvage them out of there. They play with a kind of effort, they play collectively and to boot they imagine.”

Los Angeles Lakers.” data-reactid=”45″ type=”text”>As the eighth seed, the Blazers must beat the No. 9 Grizzlies correct as soon as to e book a serious-round sequence against the West-leading Los Angeles Lakers.

The Grizzlies need two wins, and might well well ship the play-in sequence to a second game with a victory on Saturday.

Milwaukee Bucks, taking full advantage of the absence of suspended Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.” data-reactid=”47″ type=”text”>The Grizzlies clinched their play-in sequence field with a 119-106 victory over a depleted Milwaukee Bucks, taking stout advantage of the absence of suspended Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Ja Morant both posted triple doubles, Valanciunas scoring 26 points with 19 rebounds and 12 assists and Morant putting up 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.” data-reactid=”48″ type=”text”>Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas and Rookie of the twelve months candidate Ja Morant every posted triple doubles, Valanciunas scoring 26 parts with 19 rebounds and 12 assists and Morant striking up 12 parts, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

Dillon Brooks added 31 points for the Grizzlies.” data-reactid=”49″ type=”text”>Dillon Brooks added 31 parts for the Grizzlies.

Phoenix Suns, who completed the only perfect 8-0 run in the restart with a 128-102 victory over Dallas but still failed to make the play-in series.” data-reactid=”50″ type=”text”>It became as soon as a heartbreaking night for the Phoenix Suns, who carried out the very finest supreme 8-0 bustle within the restart with a 128-102 victory over Dallas but restful didn’t assemble the play-in sequence.

Devin Booker scored 23 of his 27 points in the first half, when Phoenix connected on 65.9% of their shots on the way to a 76-57 halftime lead.” data-reactid=”51″ type=”text”>Devin Booker scored 23 of his 27 parts within the main half, when Phoenix related on 65.9% of their photographs on the correct technique to a 76-57 halftime lead.

Mavs team that gave star Luka Doncic limited minutes and had Kristaps Porzingis sidelined with a foot injury.” data-reactid=”52″ type=”text”>The Suns led by as many as 28 parts against a playoff-sure Mavs crew that gave star Luka Doncic tiny minutes and had Kristaps Porzingis sidelined with a foot shatter.

Booker has been a revelation within the restart, averaging 30.5 parts over eight video games. As the Suns waited for the discontinue result of the Blazers game to be taught their destiny, he said the Suns had executed loads even within the occasion that they comprise been executed for the season.

“We had one aim, to enhance, and we did that,” Booker said. “I judge we approached this with the correct mindset from the foundation, from practices, from practicing camp in Phoenix, from the main two weeks we bought down here, all people became as soon as locked in on all cylinders.”

Spurs took the court against the Utah Jazz.” data-reactid=”55″ type=”text”>The wins for Phoenix and Memphis mixed to extinguish the hopes of San Antonio rapidly sooner than the Spurs took the court against the Utah Jazz.

The last time the Spurs didn’t assemble the playoffs became as soon as 1997, and coach Gregg Popovich then presided over a 22-season bustle of post-season appearances that yielded 5 championships and a 170-114 playoff story.

After Utah’s 118-112 victory over the Spurs, Popovich praised his young crew and made light of the discontinue of the shuffle.

“I assign now not dwell on the past,” Popovich said. “What’s well-known is the second … I am extremely elated at the sort they performed.”

As the West’s four ultimate playoff contenders battled it out for the 2 play-in berths, the Lakers coasted into the playoffs with a 136-122 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Buddy Hield scored 28 parts and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 27 because the Kings notched correct their third victory within the restart.

Lakers celeb LeBron James, who became as soon as listed as “questionable” for the sport with a sore correct groin, scored 17 parts in decrease than 15 minutes of action — all within the main half.

Dion Waiters led the Lakers with 19 parts and Markieff Morris added 14.

“I judge our guys are ready to salvage into that playoff atmosphere,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “LeBron became as soon as in a position to salvage in, salvage reasonably of bit of rhythm so he does not comprise this form of long layoff between video games … So there comprise been hundreds of positives, but we completely must play higher than currently.”

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