Denver basketball players beat Minnesota 115:112 and remained in the race for first place in the Western Conference before the NBA playoffs.
The current champions were led by Nikola Jokić with 35 points, 16 rebounds and two assists. Michael Porter scored 26 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, Jamal Murray had 18 points and 11 assists, and Aaron Gordon had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
In the Minnesota team, Anthony Edwards was the most effective with 30 points with eight rebounds and eight assists, Jaden McDaniels scored 26 points with six rebounds, and Mike Conley with 13 points with six rebounds and five assists.
The team was without three important players Karl-Anthony Towns due to a knee injury, Rudy Gober due to a rib injury and Naz Reed due to a head injury.
Denver is second in the Western Conference with 48 wins and 21 losses, behind Oklahoma who has 47/20, while Minnesota has fallen to third place with 47/22.
Orlando basketball players beat Charlotte 112:92 and secured at least a play-in berth in the East. In the winning team, Cole Anthony was the most effective with 21 points, 17 of which he scored in the second quarter, Jalen Suggs had 16 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals, and Paolo Bankero had 13 points and five assists.
In the Charlotte team, Brandon Miller scored 21 points with seven rebounds, Vasilije Micić scored 20 points, and Miles Bridges added 16 points.
Orlando is fifth in the East with 41/28 and cannot be overtaken by Brooklyn, who is 11th in the standings, with 13 games to go.
Houston basketball players beat Washington 137:114 and achieved their sixth consecutive victory. The Rockets were led by Jalen Green with 42 points and 10 rebounds, Amen Thompson scored 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Jabari Smith had 18 points and 14 rebounds.
In the Washington team, eight players scored double-digit points, and the most effective were Corey Kispert, Justin Champagne and Jules Bernard with 16 points each. Kyle Kuzma, Danny Avdia and Tyus Jones missed the game due to injuries.
New Orleans basketball players beat Brooklyn 104:91 and achieved their third consecutive victory, or seventh in the last eight games. Zion Williamson led them with 28 points, seven rebounds and four assists, CJ McCallum added 16 points, and Larry Nance had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Brooklyn lost the fourth consecutive game, and the most effective were Cam Thomas with 25 points and Mikel Bridges with 15 points.
Dallas basketball players beat San Antonio 113:107 and kept their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
Kyri Irving was the most effective in the winning team with 28 points with seven assists, and Luka Dončić had 18 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds, which was his eighth triple-double in the last 10 games.
In the San Antonio team, Trey Jones scored 22 points, Devin Vassell 19, and Victor Vembanjama 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Dallas is seventh in the West with 40/29, behind Sacramento (39/28) in the battle for the sixth place that leads directly to the playoffs. San Antonio is last in the West at 15/54.
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