Westbrook, Thunder Knock Off Jazz
(Oklahoma City, OK) — Russell Westbrook recorded triple-double number-32 as they Thunder knocked off the Jazz, 112-104, in Oklahoma City. Westbrook finished with 33 points, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds to lead OKC. His 32nd triple-double puts him above Wilt Chamberlain for the second-most triple-doubles in a season. Victor Oladipo scored 22 points in the win. Dante Exum keyed Utah with 22 points, and Alec Burks added 21. The Jazz had their four-game win streak snapped.
Clippers Surge Past 76ers
(Los Angeles, CA) — The Clippers outscored the 76ers by 16 in the final quarter, surging to a 112-100 win at the Staples Center. Chris Paul piled up 30 points in the win, and DeAndre Jordan posted 19 points, 20 rebounds and three blocks. Blake Griffin added a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double for the Clips, who have won four of their past five games. Richaun Holmes led Philadelphia with 24 points and nine boards. The 76ers have lost 10 of their past 11 matchups with the Clippers.
Pistons Lock Up Knicks
(Detroit, MI) — The Pistons locked up the Knicks in the fourth quarter and earned a 112-92 win at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Andre Drummond posted 24 points and 15 boards as Detroit gave up just 11 points in the final quarter. Tobias Harris led the Pistons with 28 points as they evened up their record to 33-and-33. Kristaps Porzingis had a team-high 18 points for the Knicks, who have lost four of their past five games. They trailed by as many as 18 in the first quarter and never recovered.
Suns’ Buzzer Beater Beats Mavericks
(Dallas, TX) — Devin Booker’s jumper with one-second remaining lifted the Suns to a 100-98 win over the Mavericks in Dallas. Booker scored 36 points, 25 of them in the second half. T.J. Warren had 16 points for Phoenix. The Suns are 4-and-2 in their last six games. Dirk Nowitzki had 23 points and 11 boards for Dallas. Harrison Barnes also contributed 23 points. The Mavs had their four-game winning streak halted.
Hawks Cruise Past Grizzlies
(Memphis, TN) — The Hawks jumped out to an 18-point lead after one and never looked back as they crushed the Grizzlies 107-90 in Memphis. Taurean Prince led five Atlanta players in double-figures with 17 points. Dennis Schroder and Paul Millsap scored 16 apiece. The Hawks shot 50-percent from the field and from three as they improved to 37-and-29. The Grizzlies shot a dismal 37.8-percent from the field including 5-of-29 from deep. JaMychal Green paced the Griz with 20 points as they lost their fifth-straight.
Spurs Handle Warriors As Stars Sit
(San Antonio, TX) — The lack of star power didn’t affect the Spurs as they handled the Warriors, 107-85, in San Antonio. Kawhi Leonard is out with a concussion, and LaMarcus Aldridge is dealing with an irregular heartbeat. Patty Mills scored a team-high 21 points as 11 different Spurs played at least 13 minutes. They shot almost 52-percent from the field, and are now a half-game behind Golden State in the West at 51-and-14. Ian Clark was the only bright spot for the Warriors, who rested Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Igoudala and Draymond Green. Clark scored a career-high 36 points on 15-of-21 shooting.
Davis, Pelicans Slip Hornets In OT
(Charlotte, NC) — Anthony Davis put up 46 points and 21 rebounds as the Pelicans slipped the Hornets, 125-122, in Charlotte. Davis had 24 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the way. DeMarcus Cousins got into foul trouble and didn’t play most of the fourth or OT. Jrue Holiday had 15 points and 13 assists as the Pelicans ended a two-game slide. Marvin Williams led Charlotte with 27 points. Kemba Walker and Nic Batum scored 24 points each as Charlotte fell to 29-and-37.
Cavaliers Throttle Magic
(Orlando, FL) — LeBron James scored 24 points, doled out 13 assists and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Cavaliers beat the Magic 116-104 in Orlando. It was James’ ninth triple-double this season. Kyrie Irving contributed 22 points. Cleveland snapped a three-game losing streak. Nikola Vucevic led Orlando with 20 points and 16 boards. The Magic have lost four of their last five.
Bucks Close Out Timberwolves
(Milwaukee, WI) — Seven Bucks scored in double-figures as they closed out the Timberwolves, 102-95, in Milwaukee. Tony Snell led the way with 19 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 18. The Bucks pulled away in the fourth quarter to win their sixth game in a row. Karl-Anthony Towns keyed Minnesota with 35 points and 14 rebounds. Ricky Rubio had 22 points and eight assists in defeat.
Wizards Clip Trail Blazers In OT
(Portland, OR) — Markieff Morris hit a controversial game-winner with less than one second left in overtime to lift the Wizards past the Trail Blazers 125-124 in Portland. Morris appeared to step out-of-bounds before hitting the jumper but the shot would count. John Wall scored 39 points. Morris, Marcin Gortat, and Otto Porter Junior recorded double-doubles as the Wiz overcame a 21-point halftime deficit to improve to 41-and-24. CJ McCollum paced the Blazers with 34 points. Damian Lillard added 33 as Portland’s four game winning streak was snapped.
Nuggets Cruise Past Kings
(Sacramento, CA) — Gary Harris led the way with 24 points to help the Nuggets cruise past the Kings 105-92 in Sacramento. Denver opened up a 10-point lead at the half and never looked back as they improved to 31-and-35. Nikola Jokic recorded a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Danilo Gallinari scored 15 in the winning effort. Buddy Hield paced the Kings with 17 points in defeat. Sacramento has lost eight in a row and fell to 25-and-41 overall.
Blues Down Islanders
(St. Louis, MO) — Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice as the Blues downed the Islanders, 4-3, in St. Louis. Tarasenko’s 31st and 32nd goals of the year helped key a 4-1 lead after two periods for the Blues. Alexander Steen and Patrik Berglund also found the back of the net for St. Louis, which won its fourth straight game. Brock Nelson scored for the Isles in the second. Anthony Beauvillier and Nick Leddy added third period goals but it was too little, too late in New York’s third loss in five games.
Walton, Michigan Roll Past Minnesota
(Washington, DC) — Derrick Walton Junior piled up 29 points and nine assists as Michigan rolled past Minnesota, 84-77, in the Big Ten semifinals from Washington, DC. The eighth-seeded Wolverines led by 11 at halftime and got 17 points in 18 minutes from Moritz Wagner to close out the win. Michigan will battle Wisconsin in the title game on Sunday. Nate Mason led the Gophers with 23 points on 10-of-23 shooting. Minnesota fell to 24-and-9.
Wisconsin Buries Northwestern
(Washington, DC) — Wisconsin wasted no time with upstart Northwestern, burying them in a 76-48 Big Ten semifinal victory in Washington, DC. The Badgers scored a wire-to-wire victory, led by 18 points and 10 rebounds from Nigel Hayes. Ethan Happ added 16 points and eight boards as the Badgers cruised into Sunday’s title game, where they’ll play Michigan. Scottie Lindsey was the only Wildcat in double-figures with 16 points. At 23-and-11, Northwestern could very well earn the school’s first ever NCAA Tournament bid during “Selection Sunday.”
Iowa State Downs West Virginia For Big 12 Title
(Kansas City, MO) — Iowa State locked up its third Big 12 tournament title in the past four seasons with an 80-74 victory over West Virginia in Kansas City. A 15-7 run to end the first half put the Cyclones up for good. Monte Morris led the way with 17 points and Deonte Burton added 16. Iowa State has won nine of its past 10 games. Jevon Carter keyed the Mountaineers with 18 points. West Virginia fell to 26-and-8.
Nevada Tops Colorado State To Pick Up NCAA Bid
(Las Vegas, NV) — Jordan Caroline’s 23 points and 10 boards helped Nevada beat Colorado State 79-71 to win the Mountain West championship and an automatic NCAA tournament bid. Marcus Marshall contributed 21 points. The Wolf Pack will take a 28-and-6 record into their first NCAA tourney since 2006. Gian Clavell had 30 points and Prentiss Nixon 21 for the Rams. Colorado State wraps up the season at 23-and-11.
Villanova Drops Creighton, Wins Big East Tournament
(New York, NY) — Villanova took a 14-point halftime lead and held on in a 74-60 win over Creighton in the Big East tournament championship game at Madison Square Garden. Josh Hart led the way with 29 points as ‘Nova locked up its second Big East tournament title in the past three years. Jalen Brunson scored 17 points for the 31-and-3 Wildcats. Marcus Foster and Cole Huff led the Bluejays with 13 points each. Creighton had 17 turnovers and fell to 25-and-9.
Duke Drills Notre Dame, Takes ACC Tournament
(New York, NY) — Jayson Tatum scored eight points in the final three minutes as Duke drilled Notre Dame, 75-69, in the ACC Tournament title game from New York. Tatum finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, and put the Blue Devils up for good with a late free throw. Luke Kennard posted 16 points and Amile Jefferson scored 14 as Duke clinched its first tournament title since 2011. Bonzie Colson led Notre Dame with 29 points, nine rebounds and three steals in defeat. The Irish fell to 25-and-9.
Arizona Tops Oregon, Wins Pac-12
(Las Vegas, NV) — Allonzo Trier scored 23 points with eight rebounds to lead seventh-ranked Arizona past number-five Oregon 83-80 in the Pac-12 championship game in Las Vegas. Kadeem Allen added 13 points. The Wildcats won their second Pac-12 title in three years. Lauri Markkanen scored 11 points in the winning effort. Dillon Brooks paced the Ducks with 25 points in defeat. Tyler Dorsey scored 23 but Oregon dropped to 29-and-5 heading into “Selection Sunday”.