Friday was yet another night of thrills with seven players getting at least 34 points and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker scoring a career-high 70 points.
Celtics dim Booker-inspired Suns
Devin Booker’s outstanding 70-point game was not enough for the Phoenix Suns to beat the Boston Celtics as they still lost 120-130. Isaiah Thomas had 34 points and seven assists, Al Horford a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double, and Jae Crowder also had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Alan Williams had 14 rebounds and nine points for the Suns, Alex Len 11 points and six rebounds, while Leandro Barbosa finished with 11 points and five rebounds.
Wizards get playoffs-spot clinching win over Nets
The Washington Wizards are now postseason-bound after defeating the Brooklyn Nets 129-108. John Wall had 22 points, four rebounds and nine assists, Bradley Beal had 19 points and Brandon Jennings finished with 18 points and nine assists.
The Nets were led by Justin Hamilton with 20 points and six rebounds, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 19 points and seven rebounds, while Jeremy Lin ended the game with 14 points.
Cavs swat Hornets
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Hornets 112-105 in Charlotte on the back of LeBron James’ 32-point, 11-rebound double-double, Kyrie Irving had 26 points, seven assists and four steals, and Kevin Love had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Kemba Walker had 28 points and five assists for the Hornets, Marco Belinelli 22 points, and Cameroonian-French guard Nicolas Batum 19 points.
Magic dazzle Pistons
The Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 115-87. Terrence Ross had 18 points, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic combined for 32 with 16 points apiece, Elfrid Payton had a 14-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple double, and Algerian-French guard Evan Fournier had 15 points. Congolese center Bismack Biyombo ended with four points and four rebounds.
The Pistons were led by Jon Leuer with 16 points and eight rebounds, Roban Marjanovic had 15 points and four rebounds, and Tobias Harris and Reggie Jackson combined for 22 with 11 points apiece.
Nuggets strike Pacers
The Denver Nuggets beat the Indiana Pacers 125-117. Nikola Jokic had a 30-point, 17-rebound double-double, Wilson Chandler had 24 points and four rebounds, and Danilo Gallinari finished with a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Paul George led the Pacers with 27 points and nine rebounds, Jeff Teague had 21 points and eight assists, and Myles Turner ended the game with 20 points, four rebounds and four blocks.
The Rest
A 32-point, 10-rebound double-double from Dario Saric helped the Philadelphia 76ers past the Chicago Bulls 117-107, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Atlanta Hawks 100-97 on the back of Nigerian-Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 34-point, 13-rebound double-double, James Harden had a 38-point, 17-assists double-double in the Houston Rockets’ 117-107 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 130-119 on the back of Jordan Clarkson’s 35 points, and Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors past the Sacramento Kings with a 27-point, 12 assist double-double.
By Kaunda Chama
