A total of 10 games were played around the NBA on Thursday, including a few with big-time postseason implications. We got the best three of them right here:
Lakers Top Mavs as Luka Doncic Drops 45 in Return
Luka Doncic teared up during his video tribute before burying his former team, the Dallas Mavericks (38-42), under an avalanche of points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers (49-31) to a 112-97 playoff-clinching win at American Airlines Center.
Doncic, who spent his first seven seasons in Dallas, fired 45 points on top of 8 rebounds and 6 assists in his emotional return to his former stomping grounds. LeBron James added 27 points—including 13 in the fourth—to help Luka and the Lakers hold off the Mavs.
Naji Marshall topscored for Dallas with 23 points to go along with 8 assists, while PJ Washington added 14. Anthony Davis, the main piece the Mavs got in return for Doncic, had 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists against his former squad.
Up next:
Lakers vs. Houston Rockets on April 12
Mavs vs. Toronto Raptors on April 12
Spurs Sink Warriors Behind Harrison Barnes’ Game-Winner
Harrison Barnes canned an off-balanced, buzzer-beating triple to lead the San Antonio Spurs (33-47) to a 114-11 triumph over the Golden State Warriors (47-33) at Chase Center.
Barnes finished with 20 points on six triples for the Spurs, who have long been eliminated even for play-in contention. Stephon Castle added 21 points and 5 assists to his Rookie-of-the-Year case, while Keldon Johnson chipped in 21 off the San Antonio bench.
Steph Curry fired a game-high 30 points but was one-upped by his former teammate Barnes, whom the Warriors let go to sign Kevin Durant in 2017. Jimmy Butler added 28 points and 7 assists, while Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield scored 12 apiece off the bench.
The loss dropped the Warriors to seventh in the West after reaching as high as fifth at the start of the week.
Up next:
Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns on April 12
Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers on April 12
Clippers Bring Down Rockets, Continue to Climb in the West
James Harden had 35 points and 10 dimes to help power the Los Angeles Clippers (48-32) to a 134-117 rout of the Houston Rockets (52-28) at Intuit Dome.
Kawhi Leonard continued his strong play for the Clippers as well, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Ivica Zubac showed out, too, finishing with a 20-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double for the surging Clippers, who have won six straight eight of nine. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nicolas Batum added 16 and 15, respectively, off the bench.
Reed Sheppard had 20 points for the Rockets, who played without Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson. Tari Eason added 17, Jeff Green chipped in 19 off the bench, and Cam Whitmore put up 14 more.
With the win, the Clippers are now tied with the Denver Nuggets for the fourth and fifth seeds. Houston remains the second seed.
Up next:
Clippers vs. Sacramento Kings on April 12
Rockets vs. Lakers on April 12
