Unsurprisingly, the Slovenian Luka Doncic, author of his 11th triple-double of the season (20 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists), was the main architect of the victory of the Mavs, who resisted a return at the end of the game. of the Raptors (114-110). Leading by 10 points in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Dallas players, also carried by the Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (21 pts) and Dorian Finney-Smith, author of two three-point baskets as late as they were saving, saw their opponents return to 2 small units 4.9 seconds from the buzzer. But two successful free throws by Josh Richardson 3.9 seconds to go finally allowed the Mavericks to regain a 4-point lead and grab a sixth victory in their last seven games, securing their place in the play-offs. . “Avoiding play-ins is important”,Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "There are too many advantages to not being in this situation."
LUKA SLAM pic.twitter.com/SkQmvL3Xvc
- x - Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 15, 2021
The Washington Wizards, 10th in the East, were on the contrary delighted to qualify in extremis for the play-offs thanks to their 120-105 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Chicago Bulls, 11th, can no longer catch them.
Russell Westbrook, author of 21 points, 12 rebounds and 17 assists, was once again monstrous for the Wizards.
He who had equaled Monday the record for the number of triple-double career Oscar Robertson (182) is now at 183. "We are grateful to have the opportunity to participate in the play-offs", welcomed Westbrook.
"Now we have to do the job one more game and move up the standings."
The Sixers secure the leading position in the East
The pieces of the play-off puzzle continued to fall into place elsewhere. The Philadelphia 76ers secured first place in the East with a wide 122-97 victory over the Orlando Magic. Seth Curry scored 20 points and stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons added 13 points apiece for the Sixers, who outscored the Magic 39-19 in the second quarter to take control of the game. Cameroonian MVP contender Embiid also confiscated 11 rebounds, while Australia's Simmons distributed nine assists. Thanks to this victory, neither the Brooklyn Nets (2nd) nor the Milwaukee Bucks (3rd) will be able to rob them of the first place. The Sixers "must now demonstrate why they are seeded number 1," said Joel Embiid.
In the West, the Utah Jazz consolidated their first place in the conference with a 109-93 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic (22 pts), Jordan Clarkson (18) and the French Rudy Gobert (16 points, 18 rebounds), allowed the Jazz to regain color, after two defeats in a row. The Utah franchise will be sure to be the No. 1 seed in the West if they win over the Sacramento Kings or if the No. 2 Phoenix loses one of their last two games against San Antonio this weekend. end. The Denver Nuggets meanwhile beat the Detroit Pistons 104-91 and are tied for third place in the West with the Los Angeles Clippers, who left their stars Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Patrick Beverly to rest for s' losing 122-115 to the Houston Rockets, last.
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