NBA roundup: Hawks clinch playoff berth, Wemby returns to break more records

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mccollum-c-j/tl29t9eg/"]CJ McCollum[/a] scored a game-high [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/atlanta-hawks-xAO4gBas/cleveland-cavaliers-xGk13Tb6/?mid=K89uV74n"]29 points[/a] for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-hawks/xAO4gBas/"]Hawks[/a], who came into the contest at sixth in the East and still in danger of falling into the play-in tournament that will see the seventh- through 10th-placed teams battle for the last two playoff berths in each conference.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alexander-walker-nickeil/UX4LnqkP/"]Nickeil Alexander-Walker[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/johnson-jalen/St5Wx0bR/"]Jalen Johnson[/a] scored 18 points apiece, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/daniels-dyson/r5pENvXa/"]Dyson Daniels[/a] added a triple-double of 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists for the Hawks, who led 61-48 at halftime and surged away with a 16-0 scoring run late in the third quarter.[/p][p][b]"The goal was getting in the playoffs," [/b]McCollum said. [b]"Now for us it's about getting healthy, making sure everybody is ready to go, and we can ramp up."[/b][/p][embed guid="56aaffb2-f9e8-4aa4-9891-7935ff5f938f" url="https://x.com/ATLHawks/status/2042777682664988697" social-type="twitter" /][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-cavaliers/xGk13Tb6/"]Cavaliers[/a], assured of the fourth seed in the East and home court advantage in the first round, rested [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mitchell-donovan/hhFqipLe/"]Donovan Mitchell[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/allen-jarrett/YFCdDdo1/"]Jarrett Allen[/a].[/p][h2]Celtics secure second seed[/h2][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-celtics/KYD9hVEm/"]Celtics[/a], who had missed a chance to secure the second seed with a loss to the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-knicks/WCNO4nbt/"]New York Knicks[/a] on Thursday, got the job done with a record-equaling 29 three-pointers in a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/boston-celtics-KYD9hVEm/new-orleans-pelicans-U3yc9SkP/?mid=tOclToZb"]144-118[/a] victory over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-orleans-pelicans/U3yc9SkP/"]New Orleans Pelicans[/a].[/p][p]It's the second time in two seasons the Celtics have matched the record of 29 treys, first set by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/milwaukee-bucks/QTBEW6rC/"]Milwaukee Bucks[/a] in December 2020 and also matched this season by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/memphis-grizzlies/U1I5YSDa/"]Memphis Grizzlies[/a].[/p][p][b]All 30 teams played on the penultimate day of regular-season action, with more than a dozen of those headed for the postseason still jostling for playoff or play-in position.[/b][/p][p]The Knicks secured the third seed in the East with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/new-york-knicks-WCNO4nbt/toronto-raptors-CxtbCMdU/?mid=EZ6y1565"]112-95[/a] victory over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/toronto-raptors/CxtbCMdU/"]Toronto Raptors[/a].[/p][p]Toronto slipped from fifth to sixth in the East with one game remaining and the same 45-36 record as the seventh-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/orlando-magic/QZMS36Dn/"]Orlando Magic[/a], who beat the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-bulls/bPjc49q0/"]Chicago Bulls[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/chicago-bulls-bPjc49q0/orlando-magic-QZMS36Dn/?mid=rmf5P3YN"]127-103[/a].[/p][embed guid="e44155ba-f00b-464c-a759-99d740c6200b" url="https://x.com/ESPNInsights/status/2042800228940533772?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/charlotte-hornets/xftMikUg/"]Charlotte Hornets[/a] were locked into the play-in with their [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/charlotte-hornets-xftMikUg/detroit-pistons-UcjMRj6J/?mid=AsEUCQlI"]118-100 loss[/a] to Eastern Conference top seeds [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-pistons/UcjMRj6J/"]Detroit[/a].[/p][h2]Wembanyama returns with a bang[/h2][p]Western Conference second seeds [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-antonio-spurs/IwmkErSH/"]San Antonio Spurs[/a], fueled by 40 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots from superstar [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wembanyama-victor/jFmM1MFl/"]Victor Wembanyama[/a], beat the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dallas-mavericks/YouS3mEC/"]Dallas Mavericks[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/dallas-mavericks-YouS3mEC/san-antonio-spurs-IwmkErSH/?mid=bNOuI3t4"]139-120[/a]. [b]It was the fastest 40/10/5 recorded in NBA history.[/b][/p][p]Wembanyama returned to action after missing one game with a bruised rib, and with 64 regular-season games and the NBA Cup final under his belt, has met the 65-game minimum to be eligible for season honours, including Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player.[/p][embed guid="1958ba6f-5c5e-45b2-b609-8d30c822649e" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2042797872593146351?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/denver-nuggets/CxvW27TI/"]Denver Nuggets[/a] kept their bid for third seed in the West on track with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/denver-nuggets-CxvW27TI/oklahoma-city-thunder-0fHFHEWD/?mid=h4QeELuT"]127-107 victory[/a] over the defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/oklahoma-city-thunder/0fHFHEWD/"]Oklahoma City Thunder[/a] in a contest that saw both teams rest all of their regular starters.[/p][p]With three-time MVP [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jokic-nikola/dUHaiJ5n/"]Nikola Jokic[/a] among the Nuggets' absentees, Jonas Valanciunas scored 23 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to propel Denver to an 11th straight win.[/p][p]It was perhaps not surprising that Oklahoma City, with the top seed in the West and best record in the league secured, would hold out stars including reigning MVP [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gilgeous-alexander-shai/d6TE5wgc/"]Shai Gilgeous-Alexander[/a].[/p][p]But Nuggets coach David Adelman said he was less concerned about his team's ultimate seeding than with having his banged-up players healthy when the playoffs start.[/p][p]"As a competitive person, I want everybody to play,"[b] [/b]Adelman said. "[b]I think you just have to play it out with decisions that are best for your team."[/b][/p][embed guid="7ba5765e-edaa-44ac-996e-1ec9de8c9fcc" url="https://x.com/nuggets/status/2042822154010661289" social-type="twitter" /][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-lakers/ngegZ8bg/"]Los Angeles Lakers[/a] are assured of no worse than fourth in the West - and home court advantage in the first round - after a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/los-angeles-lakers-ngegZ8bg/phoenix-suns-M1Gy2pra/?mid=0AmNUtQ9"]101-73 victory[/a] over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/phoenix-suns/M1Gy2pra/"]Phoenix Suns[/a] coupled with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/houston-rockets/Sr9PQALP/"]Houston Rockets[/a]' [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/houston-rockets-Sr9PQALP/minnesota-timberwolves-KjBIVQcI/?mid=vJuyKsdo"]136-132 loss[/a] to the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-timberwolves/KjBIVQcI/"]Minnesota Timberwolves[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-lebron/nuIVxFJk/"]LeBron James[/a] scored 28 points and handed out 12 assists for the Lakers, who are without NBA leading scorer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doncic-luka/pQ4ZBK0o/"]Luka Doncic[/a] as he battles to recover from a hamstring strain in time for the start of the playoffs.[/p][p]Minnesota's victory snapped Houston's eight-game winning streak and ensured the Rockets will be seeded fifth.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/basketball/usa/nba/"]Follow the NBA with Flashscore.[/a][/h2]