A victory down to the wire for the San Antonio Spurs against the Denver Nuggets, 121-120, with a great Victor Wembanyama. A place in the playoffs assured for the Cleveland Cavaliers after their victory over the Indiana Pacers, 129 to 120.
What to remember from the matches on Friday, April 12, as the regular season of the NBA, the North American basketball league, ends on Sunday.
Spurs’ last stand
Thirty-four points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks. And this formula from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, which sums it all up: “Victor is Victor. » The San Antonio Spurs – bottom of the Western Conference – managed to make up for the 23 points they were behind at the start of the third quarter, to snatch victory from the Nuggets – leaders before the match – thanks to a basket from Devonte’Graham… less than a second from the buzzer.
The number 1 place in the Eastern Conference flies to Denver, for the benefit of the Oklahoma City Thunder, clear winner of the Milwaukee Bucks (125-107). The Minnesota Timberwolves, who beat the Atlanta Hawks by a short head (109-106), also passed them in front. Nikola Jokic’s teammates, now third, were already assured of a place in the playoffs before the match.
Cleveland in the playoffs
By beating the Indiana Pacers (129-120), the Cleveland Cavaliers are guaranteed to maintain their fourth place in the Eastern Conference and go directly to the playoffs. They can even dislodge the New York Knicks, third after their success over the Brooklyn Nets (111-107) in the New York derby. Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points for the Cavs, who scored 70 points in the first half alone.
The 76ᵉʳˢ on their way
For their part, the Philadelphia 76ers signed – with Joel Embiid at 32 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists – a precious victory against the Orlando Magic (125-113). It allows them to stay in the race for a direct place in the playoffs. The return, in April, of the best player of the 2023 season, after two months of absence and a knee operation, did a lot of good for the Pennsylvania team, which continued its seven victories in a row on Friday. .
Fierce fight in the East, a place for two in the West
In the Eastern Conference, nothing is decided for the fifth and sixth places, the last two directly qualifying for the playoffs. Four franchises can claim it: Orlando, Indiana, Philadelphia (46 wins and 35 losses each) and Miami (45 wins and 36 losses).
In the Western Conference, The New Orleans Pelicans (6e) and the Phoenix Suns (7e) are competing for sixth place. Both teams won away this Friday, in California, the first against the Golden State Warriors (114-109), the second against the Sacramento Kings (108-107).