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NBA Recap: Thunder Secure Top Seed in West, Lakers Inch Closer to Playoffs
In a surprising turn of events, the Oklahoma City Thunder emerged as the top seed in the Western Conference, surpassing the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, as the NBA regular season concluded on Sunday.
The Thunder’s commanding 135-86 victory over the playoff-bound Dallas Mavericks, who opted to rest key players like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, propelled them to the summit of the West. This outcome was particularly remarkable as it marked the first instance in which three teams entered their final games with identical records, all vying for the number one seed in the conference.
Despite the Nuggets’ 126-111 triumph over the Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 125-106 defeat to the Phoenix Suns, the Thunder’s superior head-to-head record secured their position at the top.
In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks clinched the second seed with a thrilling 120-119 overtime victory against the Chicago Bulls, fueled by Jalen Brunson’s stellar 40-point performance. Brunson’s clutch plays, including a crucial pull-up shot to tie the game in regulation and an assist for a go-ahead three-pointer in overtime, propelled the Knicks to their 50th win of the season.
The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a setback in their quest for the second seed, falling 113-88 to the Orlando Magic, who were led by Paolo Banchero’s impressive 26-point, 11-rebound display. Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers secured the sixth seed with a resounding 157-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, setting up a first-round clash with the Bucks.
In the play-in tournament, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James’ stellar triple-double performance, defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 124-108 to claim the eighth seed in the West. Despite concerns over Anthony Davis’ late-game injury scare, the Lakers displayed resilience to secure their spot in the play-in tournament, where they will face the Pelicans once again for a chance to advance to the playoffs as the seventh seed.
In the Eastern Conference play-in, the Miami Heat secured the eighth seed with a 118-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors. They will face the Philadelphia 76ers, who rested star player Joel Embiid in their 107-86 win over the Brooklyn Nets. The winner of this play-in matchup will advance to the playoffs, while the loser will face the winner of the clash between the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks for the final playoff berth.
