Hawks Clinch Playoff Berth, Wembanyama Records Historic 40-Point Night on Busy Friday

Hawks Clinch Playoff Berth, Wembanyama Records Historic 40-Point Night on Busy Friday

CJ McCollum erupted for 29 points with six 3-pointers to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 124-102 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, clinching a postseason berth for the Eastern Conference squad. Dyson Daniels posted the second triple-double of his career with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, adding 2 steals. The Hawks will face Miami on the final day of the regular season with a chance to secure the fifth seed in the East.

Victor Wembanyama produced the night’s most dominant individual performance, dropping 40 points and 13 rebounds in just 26 minutes and 13 seconds during the San Antonio Spurs‘ 139-120 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Wemby recorded the fastest 40-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist game in NBA history, adding 5 assists and 2 blocks on 14-of-23 shooting from the field. Cooper Flagg countered with 33 points for Dallas.

Eastern Conference Playoff Race Shaping Up

The Boston Celtics secured the No. 2 seed in the East with a commanding 144-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, tying the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a game with 29 makes. Sam Hauser led the way with 24 points while Jaylen Brown added 23. The New York Knicks clinched the East’s No. 3 seed following a 112-95 win over the Toronto Raptors, with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combining for 51 points.

The Philadelphia 76ers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 105-94 victory against the Indiana Pacers, maintaining their No. 8 seeding and keeping playoff hopes alive. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 25 points. The Raptors fell to No. 6 in the East after their loss but remain in position for a top-six spot heading into Sunday’s finale against the Brooklyn Nets.

The Charlotte Hornets are bound for the SoFi Play-In Tournament after losing to the Detroit Pistons 118-100. LaMelo Ball finished with 27 points and six 3-pointers for Charlotte, while Jalen Duren and Duncan Robinson paced Detroit with 20 and 19 points respectively. The Hornets will face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden to close their regular season.

Western Conference Developments

The Minnesota Timberwolves ended Houston’s eight-game winning streak with a 136-132 victory, as Anthony Edwards sank a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute for 22 points. Terrence Shannon Jr. led the Timberwolves with 23 points off the bench on 8-of-13 shooting with five 3-pointers. Amen Thompson recorded a career-high 41 points for Houston alongside Kevin Durant’s 33 points, but it wasn’t enough.

The Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to 11 games with a 127-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jonas Valančiūnas led the way with 23 points and 17 rebounds, while Julian Strawther added 22 points. The Orlando Magic won their fifth consecutive contest, throttling the Chicago Bulls 127-103 to hold the seventh seed with a chance to secure a top-six spot against Boston on Sunday.

Additional Friday Results

A.J. Green set a new Milwaukee Bucks franchise record with 11 3-pointers and 35 points in a 125-108 victory over Brooklyn. Cormac Ryan added 28 points off the Bucks’ bench. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns behind LeBron James, who reached his 12,000th career assist. Stephen Curry moved past Tim Duncan for 19th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list as the Golden State Warriors battled the Sacramento Kings. The Utah Jazz routed the Memphis Grizzlies 147-101, while the Miami Heat dominated the Washington Wizards 140-117 with eight players scoring in double figures. The LA Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers battled into late evening, with Deni Avdija showcasing efficiency for Portland.

Friday’s Final Scores

With just two days remaining in the regular season, 14 of the 20 postseason seeds remain up for grabs. Follow TipsGG for complete coverage of Sunday’s pivotal final games and the ensuing playoff bracket.

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