Nikola Jokic scored 23 factors in a first-half look as the Denver Nuggets beat the San Antonio Spurs 128-118 to say third seed in the Western Conference on the final day of the common NBA season.
Denver’s victory meant the Los Angeles Lakers completed as fourth seed in the Western Conference for the NBA play-offs, which start this weekend.
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The Lakers, who have been lacking their prime scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves by way of damage, defeated Utah Jazz 131-107.
Veteran Lakers star LeBron James, 41, impressed with 18 factors, six assists and 4 rebounds in the primary half.
Denver will host sixth seed the Minnesota Timberwolves in the primary spherical of the play-offs, whereas the Lakers welcome the Houston Rockets, who’re seeded fifth.
Three-time Most Valuable Player Jokic, 31, who additionally registered eight rebounds, performed simply over 18 minutes in Texas to succeed in 65 video games and grow to be eligible for the league’s season-ending awards.
Denver’s Julian Strawther scored 25 factors and Jonas Valanciunas completed with 16 factors and 11 rebounds.
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De’Aaron Fox led the Spurs with 24 factors whereas MVP contender Victor Wembanyama was rested following his 40-point efficiency in the 139-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.
Second seed San Antonio, who secured their play-off spot towards the Mavericks, will host the winner of the in-play event game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns in the primary spherical.
The in-play event is a round-robin competitors which follows the common season, the place eight groups compete to determine the seventh and eighth seeds in every convention.
Oklahoma City Thunder, who’re defending NBA champions and prime seed in the West, plus Eastern Conference first and second seeds the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics, will discover out their first-round opponents as soon as the in-play event finishes on Friday.