Chicago (USA), March 24 Devin Booker sank the Denver Nuggets (140-130) with 49 points this Thursday to shield the Phoenix Suns’ first position in the West, in an NBA whose Eastern Conference is red hot , both in the fight for the leadership and in the “playoffs”, after the triumphs of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Toronto Raptors in the direct clash with the Cleveland Cavaliers. If Phoenix is already sure of its home field advantage in the “playoffs”, in the East the Bucks are only one win away from the leaders Heat, with the Philadelphia 76ers who can also catch up if they win their next game. In addition, the victory of the Raptors against the Cavaliers and the defeat of the Chicago Bulls in the field of the New Orleans Pelicans narrowed the balance in the struggle for direct places in the playoffs. There is only one game difference between the Bulls (42-31) and the Cavaliers and Raptors (41-32). NUGGETS 130 – SUNS 140 A monumental Devin Booker, with a double-double of 49 points and ten assists, gave the Suns a 140-130 victory at the visit to the Denver Nuggets, on the fifth anniversary of his 70 points endorsed by the Boston Celtics. Booker once again led the Phoenix Suns (60-14), in which Chris Paul returned with 17 points and thirteen assists after more than a month off due to a broken finger. The Arizona team confirmed its power with a victory on one of the most difficult courts in the NBA and fueled its candidacy for the title, after the Milwaukee Bucks denied it in the finals last year. BUCKS 114 – WIZARDS 102 Without the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton, the Bucks triumphed over the Wizards with Jrue Holiday who led, with 24 points, a group of seven players over ten units. The Spanish Serge Ibaka scored 11 points and contributed to a victory that relaunches the Bucks in the fight for first place, thanks also to the two consecutive losses suffered by the Miami Heat. RAPTORS 117 – CAVALIERS 104 The Toronto Raptors sealed a momentous victory to reopen the fight for the direct ticket to the playoffs, winning 117-104, and are now tied with 41 wins and 32 losses. Pascal Siakam was the leader of the Raptors, with his 35 points and six triples, together with six rebounds and five assists that were decisive to reopen the contest to avoid the “playin”. PELICANS – BULLS The victory of the Raptors increased the problems of the Bulls, who after savoring the leadership of the East in February, are now involved in the struggle to be directly in the playoffs. Billie Donovan’s team, who could not count on DeMar DeRozan, sealed 39 points with Zack LaVine, but surrendered in the field of the New Orleans Pelicans before Davonte’ Graham’s 30 points and CJ McCollum’s 25. The Pelicans, who are still without Zion Williamson, reached the Los Angeles Lakers in the “play-in” zone. They would be measured precisely with LeBron’s team in search of a ticket to the “playoffs”. GRIZZLIES 133 – PACERS 103 The Grizzlies know how to survive without Ja Morant. The Memphis team overwhelmed the Pacers with a monumental Desmond Bane, who scored 30 points on 12-for-15 shooting and five triples, and sealed their mathematical classification for the playoffs. Morant’s absence did not prevent the Grizzlies from continuing to gain confidence and the Tennessee team won 16 of their 18 games played without their star on the court. . Eastern Conference: .1. Miami Heat (47-26) .2. Milwaukee Bucks (46-27) .3. Philadelphia 76ers (45-27) .4. Boston Celtics (46-28) .5. Chicago Bulls (42-31) .6. Cleveland Cavaliers (41-32) .7. Toronto Raptors (41-32) .8. Brooklyn Nets (38-35) .9. Charlotte Hornets (37-36) 10. Atlanta Hawks (36-27) 11. New York Knicks (31-42) 12. Washington Wizards (30-42) 13. Indiana Pacers (25-49) 14. Detroit Pistons (20 -53) 15. Orlando Magic (20-54) Western Conference: .1. Phoenix Suns (60-14) .2. Memphis Grizzlies (51-23) .3. Golden State Warriors (48-25) .4. Utah Jazz (45-28) .5. Dallas Mavericks (45-28) .6. Denver Nuggets (43-31) .7. Minnesota Timberwolves (42-32) .8. Los Angeles Clippers (36-38) .9. New Orleans Pelicans (31-42) 10. Los Angeles Lakers (31-42) 11. San Antonio Spurs (29-44) 12. Portland Trail Blazers (27-45) 13. Sacramento Kings (26-48) 14. Oklahoma City Thunder (21-52) 15. Houston Rockets (18-55).
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