Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Wednesday 11 april 2018

NBA roundup:
George, Westbrook help Thunder clinch playoff spot

MIAMI — Paul George Detroit managed only 38 by 10 points early before
scored 27 points, Russell points over the final two taking over against a de-
Westbrook got his 25th tri- quarters. pleted Grizzlies team that
ple-double of the season Detroit is out of playoff beat them 101-93 exactly
and the Oklahoma City contention, and Toronto two weeks ago in one of
Thunder clinched a playoff had already wrapped up their worst losses of the sea-
spot with a 115-93 win over the top seed in the Eastern son. Towns had five dunks
the Miami Heat on Monday Conference. The Raptors to help ignite the crowd.
night. played without Fred VanV- Ben McLemore had 18
Westbrook finished with 23 leet and Serge Ibaka. points for the Grizzlies, who
points, 18 rebounds and 13 Luke Kennard led Detroit moved one loss closer to a
assists for the Thunder, who with 20 points and Reggie prime lottery pick.
were down 18 in the open- Jackson scored 16 with The Wolves entered the
ing minutes before outscor- nine assists. Langston Gallo- evening with more than just
ing the Heat 39-12 in the way had 15 points on 7-of-8 payback on the agenda.
fourth. The 27-point margin shooting. They had the opportunity
was the third-worst for any NETS 114, BULLS 105 to secure their first appear-
quarter in Heat history, and NEW YORK (AP) — Allen ance in the playoffs since
the worst ever in a game at Crabbe scored 20 of his Kevin Garnett was patrol-
Miami. career-high 41 points in the ling the post with Latrell
Jerami Grant scored 17 first quarter and the Nets Sprewell as a wing man
points and Carmelo An- beat the Bulls for their first and Sam Cassell running
thony added 11 for Okla- three-game winning streak the offense in 2004.
homa City, which made 14 this season. BUCKS 102, MAGIC 86
3-pointers. D'Angelo Russell had 21 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Shaba-
Josh Richardson scored points and 11 assists, and zz Muhammad scored a
18 points and Hassan Wh- Spencer Dinwiddie scored season-high 22 points and
iteside added 16 for the 20 points for the Nets, who helped spark a key third-
Heat, whose playoff seed had not won three straight quarter run, Eric Bledsoe
won't be decided until the since April 1-4, 2017. had a triple-double and
season-finales Wednesday. Former Net Sean Kilpatrick the Bucks beat the Magic.
Justise Winslow and Tyler Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots was one of seven play- The Bucks leapfrogged Mi-
Johnson each scored 12 for against Miami Heat guard Tyler Johnson, left, and center Hassan ers for the Bulls to score in ami for sixth in the Eastern
Whiteside (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game,
Miami, and James Johnson Monday, April 9, 2018, in Miami. double figures, tallying 16 Conference. The Heat lost
added 11. Associated Press points. Cameron Payne to Oklahoma City on Mon-
CAVALIERS 123, KNICKS 109 had 15 for Chicago, which day.
NEW YORK (AP) — LeBron ers and won for the ninth quarter. has lost its last three games. Milwaukee won its second
James had 26 points and straight time at Madison Reserves Gay, Ginobili and Brooklyn hit 18 3-pointers in straight game without Gi-
11 assists, Kevin Love scored Square Garden. Bryn Forbes combined for its first game since falling annis Antetokounmpo,
28 points, and the Cavaliers Michael Beasley scored 25 points in the fourth quar- one shy of the NBA record who is resting a sore right
got their 50th win and an- 20 points for the Knicks in ter. Forbes finished with 11 with 24 in a rout of Chicago ankle. Both victories came
other Central Division title their final home game of points total. on Saturday. against 50-loss teams.
by beating the Knicks. the season, which opened Willie Cauley-Stein led Sac- Crabbe celebrated his Nikola Vucevic led Orlan-
The Cavaliers pulled within a home-and-home series. ramento with 25 points and 26th birthday by going 8 of do with 17 points and 10
a half-game of Philadel- Rookie Frank Ntilikina add- 10 rebounds. 11 from deep Monday. rebounds, while Bismark Bi-
phia for the No. 3 spot in ed a career-high 17 and RAPTORS 108, PISTONS 98 TIMBERWOLVES 113, GRIZ- yombo had 14 points.
the Eastern Conference, Courtney Lee also had 17. DETROIT (AP) — Jonas Va- ZLIES 94 Bledsoe had 20 points, 12
bouncing back from their SPURS 98, KINGS 85 lanciunas scored 25 points, MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl- rebounds and 11 assists for
loss to the 76ers on Friday SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Rudy and the Raptors scored the Anthony Towns slammed Milwaukee.
and winning for the sixth Gay scored 18 points, first 13 points of the fourth his way to 24 points and PELICANS 113, CLIPPERS 100
time in seven games. Manu Ginobili had 17 and quarter before holding on grabbed 18 rebounds for LOS ANGELES (AP) — An-
They reached 50 wins for the Spurs rallied late to for a victory over the Pis- the Timberwolves, who thony Davis scored 28
the fourth time in four sea- beat the Kings and clinch tons. toughed out a victory over points, Nikola Mirotic had
sons since James returned their 21st straight postsea- Detroit was without injured the Grizzlies to move one a double-double and the
from Miami and the 11th son appearance. stars Andre Drummond step closer to a long-sought Pelicans beat the Clippers
time in franchise history. Sacramento, which was and Blake Griffin for its spot in the playoffs. to clinch their first playoff
J.R. Smith and Jordan eliminated from the post- home finale, but the Pistons Jeff Teague added 24 berth in three years. Mirot-
Clarkson added 16 points season on March 11, led by still led by 17 in the first half. points and Jimmy Butler ic had 24 points and 16
apiece for the Cavaliers, 14 points before being out- The margin was only three, scored 15 points for the rebounds in the Pelicans’
who made 19 3-point- scored 38-19 in the fourth however, at halftime, and Timberwolves, who trailed fourth straight victory.q