The Dallas Mavericks are on course for the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, the playoff field is closing in behind league leaders Boston Celtics
The Mavericks won 108:106 (52:54) against the Golden State Warriors without their ailing star player Luka Doncic (knee pain) and German international Maxi Kleber. PJ Washington scored 32 points, including the two that were ultimately decisive just seconds before the end. “He was spectacular,” said Kyrie Irving, who scored 26 points himself. “You could tell it was going to be a special night by the way he started the game. That’s exactly what we need, especially when we don’t have certain players in the lineup and we need that offensive power.”
The Warriors, who are currently tenth in the Western Conference, had previously won six games in a row. However, since the runner-up Houston Rockets lost 104:119 to the Miami Heat, Stephen Curry’s team only needs one more win to at least reach the play-in tournament. Thanks to the Rockets’ defeat, the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings are certain to do so
Clippers on course with Theis
The Los Angeles Clippers with German world champion Daniel Theis are on course for the play-offs, just like the Mavericks. In the clear 131:102 win against the Utah Jazz, eight players scored in double figures, including Theis, who scored eleven points and grabbed five rebounds.
Miller leads the Hornets to victory
In the Eastern Conference, the playoff field is closing in behind league leaders Boston Celtics. The Orlando Magic with the Wagner brothers lost, as did the New York Knicks with Isaiah Hartenstein. Orlando surprisingly lost 115:124 at the Charlotte Hornets, Franz Wagner scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Moritz Wagner had eight points and four rebounds in just over ten minutes of play. Brandon Miller was unstoppable for the Hornets, with the young star hitting his first ten shots from the field and scoring 32 points.
Miller passed Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards and now ranks fifth in NBA rookie history with 173 made threes in a season.
The Knicks lost 100-108 at the Chicago Bulls, with Hartenstein recording ten points and seven rebounds as well as three steals, but also four turnovers.
