by Kevin Durant scored 42 points when the Phoenix Suns repeated their playoff hopes with a 123-112 surprise by the Eastern Conference Manager Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
Phoenix ensured an excellent performance by Durant in a row in a row when they wanted to introduce themselves to the post -season picture in the Western Conference.
Durant broke out 19 points in a goal in the third quarter, which took over the game over Cleveland’s grip.
The victory increased Phoenix to the 10th place in the Western conference and the Play-in tournament.
The six top teams of each NBA conference automatically qualify for the playoffs, while teams from 7th to 10th game were placed in a mini tournament to determine the last two playoff lying areas.
“This is the best team in the league,” said Durant after the Sun’s victory over Cleveland.
“We have problems and we know that we have the most difficult schedule in the last 10 games,” he added. “So we just wanted to choose and make sure that we continued to build at work that we did last week.”
Cleveland’s fourth loss in a row leaves the second -placed Boston Celtics only five wins behind the Cavs in the top in the east.
The Celtics improved to 51-19 after beating the Utah Jazz 121-99 on the back of 27 points from Kristaps Porzingis and 26 points from Jayson Tatum.
The progress of the Detroit Pistons in the direction of the playoffs suffered a jerk with a surprising defeat of 123-117 on the way to the fighting Dallas Mavericks.
The MAVS-Desen season by trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers and a injury to Kyrie Irving was canceled thanks to 31 points from Spencer Dinwiddie and 27 by PJ Washington a precious victory.
– ‘sense of purpose’ –
The result lines Dallas with a 34-37 record in the Western Conference on the edge of the playoff disputes on 11th place.
Detroit occupies the sixth and last automatic playoff place in the east.
Despite the loss, the pistons will find that they are facing their chances of a post-season ticket, which unlocks a far superior record (39-32-AN seventh place in Atlanta (33-36).
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated its successful bracket of No. 1 on Thursday with a ruthless 141-106 goal of the Charlotte Hornets.
The thunder was insured by top position in the west, although they had not played on Thursday after the Los Angeles Lakers’ defeat against Milwaukee.
Shai Gilgeous-Aalexander ended with 30 points when no less than eight OKC players ended double-digit figures in a wire-to-win, which leaves the thunder with a record of 58-12 upstairs in the west.
Thunder coach Mark Daignauch said that he wanted to play his team with the same intensity for the rest of the regular season if they build towards the playoffs.
“We have to play with a sense of purpose – you cannot get into the post -season in the post -season,” said Daigneult.
“It was a great 48-minute effort. We played at both ends of the floor according to our standards.”
After OKC had already assured the top position, Houston increased her hopes to win second place in the west after driving past 11 points past the Miami Heat.
Fred Vanvleet was the key man for Houston and ended with 37 points after a devastating exhibition with long -term shooting.
Vanvleet left nine out of 11 attempts from outside the arch when the rockets improved to 46-25.
The Minnesota Timberwolves remain hard on the sixth Golden State Warriors (41-29) in the race for the playoffs.
The wolves that are a place behind the Golden State improved to 41-31 after a 134-93 incorporation of the New Orleans Pelicans.
In a further surprise, the Portland Trail Blazer passed the 128-109 injury nuggets.
RCW/PST
