NBA scores,updates,news and rumors . . .

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Updates :



-Al Jefferson and Kevin Durant have been named Players of the Month.

-Michael Carter-Williams and Gorgui Dieng have been named Rookies of the Month.

-Jason Kidd and Gregg Popovich have been named Coaches of the Month.

[kingjames24szupladoh]

April 3, Final Scores/Leaders:

Pistons - 94 Pacers - 101
Smith: 24 Pts. Jennings: 9 Asts. Monroe: 16 Rebs./George: 27 Pts. George: 7 Asts. George: 13 Rebs.

Nets - 81 Knicks - 110
Johnson: 16 Pts. Livingston: 3 Asts. Pierce: 4 Rebs./Smith: 24 Pts. Smith: 6 Asts. Anthony: 10 Rebs.

Cavaliers - 119 Magic - 98
Waiters: 26 Pts. Irving: 8 Asts. Thompson: 11 Rebs./Oladipo: 16 Pts. Afflalo: 5 Asts. Vucevic: 7 Rebs.

Bobcats - 123 Sixers - 93
Jefferson: 25 Pts. Walker: 5 Asts. Jefferson: 10 Rebs./Carter-Williams: 22 Pts. Young: 4 Asts. Carter-Williams: 7 Rebs.

Rockets - 103 Raptors - 107
Harden: 26 Pts. Lin: 7 Asts. Asik: 15 Rebs./DeRozan: 29 Pts. Vasquez: 8 Asts. Ross: 9 Rebs.

Celtics - 92 Wizards - 118
Sullinger: 25 Pts. Rondo: 6 Asts. Johnson: 8 Rebs./Gortat: 22 Pts. Wall: 10 Asts. Gortat: 8 Rebs.

Bulls - 105 Hawks - 92
Augustin: 23 Pts. Noah: 6 Asts. Noah: 10 Rebs./Millsap: 22 Pts. Teauge: 8 Asts. Millsap: 11 Rebs.

Bucks - 77 Heat - 96
Sessions: 19 Pts. Sessions: 6 Asts. Pachulia: 16 Rebs./James: 17 Pts. James: 8 Asts. Douglas: 7 Rebs.

Grizzlies - 88 Timberwolves - 102
Gasol: 18 Pts. Conley: 8 Asts. Gasol: 7 Rebs./Love: 24 Pts. Love: 10 Asts. Love: 16 Rebs.

Warriors - 90 Spurs - 111
Speights: 22 Pts. Curry: 10 Asts. Speights: 9 Rebs./Parker: 18 Pts. Parker: 8 Asts. Duncan: 8 Rebs.

Pelicans - 107 Nuggets - 137
Evans: 27 Pts. Roberts: 6 Asts. Evans: 8 Rebs./Faried: 34 Pts. Lawson: 12 Asts. Faried: 13 Rebs.

Clippers - 112 Suns - 108
Griffin: 23 Pts. Paul: 9 Asts. Jordan: 11 Rebs./Marc. Morris: 16 Pts. Dragic: 8 Asts. Tucker: 11 Rebs.

Lakers - 102 Kings - 107
Meeks: 21 Pts. Marshall: 10 Asts. Hill: 15 Rebs./Gay: 31 Pts. McCallum: 5 Asts. Thompson: 12 Rebs.




STANDINGS:
West:
1. SPURS* 59-16
2. THUNDER* 54-19
3. CLIPPERSᴾ 54-22
4. Rockets 49-25
5. Blazers 49-27
6. Warriors 46-29
7. Mavericks 44-31
8. Grizzlies 44-31
9. Suns 44-31
10. Timberwolves 37-37
11. Nuggets⁰ 33-42
12. Pelicans⁰ 32-43
13. Kings⁰ 27-48
14. Lakers⁰ 25-50
15. Jazz⁰ 23-52

East:
1. HEATˢᵉ 52-22
2. PACERSᶜ 53-23
3. RAPTORS* 43-32
4. Bulls* 43-32
5. Nets* 40-34
6. Wizards* 39-36
7. Bobcats 37-38
8. Knicks 33-43
9. Hawks 32-42
10. Cavaliers 31-45
11. Pistons 27-48
12. Celtics⁰ 23-52
13. Magic⁰ 21-54
14. Sixers⁰ 16-59
15. Bucks⁰ 14-61

ᴾ - Clinched Pacific Division
ᶜ - Clinched Central Division
ˢᵉ - Clinched Southeast Division
* - Clinched Playoff Berth
⁰ - Eliminated from Playoffs contention
Division leaders are capitalized and are guaranteed at least the 4th seed.

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Friday, April 4 Schedule: 2 games

San Antonio at Oklahoma City - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT on TNT

Dallas at L.A. Clippers - 10:30 pm ET, 7:30 pm PT on TNT

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Who's your Coach of The Year?



Who's your Defensive Player of the Year?



Who's your Sixth Man of the Year?



Who's your Most Improved Player?



Who's your Rookie of the Year?



Who's your Most Valuable Player?

[kingjames24szupladoh]

STANDINGS:

West:
1. SPURSˢʷ 59-17
2. THUNDER* 55-19
3. CLIPPERSᴾ 54-23
4. Rockets 49-25
5. Blazers 49-27
6. Warriors 46-29
7. Mavericks 45-31
8. Grizzlies 44-31
9. Suns 44-31
10. Timberwolves 37-37
11. Nuggets⁰ 33-42
12. Pelicans⁰ 32-43
13. Kings⁰ 27-48
14. Lakers⁰ 25-50
15. Jazz⁰ 23-52

East:
1. HEATˢᵉ 52-22
2. PACERSᶜ 53-23
3. RAPTORS* 43-32
4. Bulls* 43-32
5. Nets* 40-34
6. Wizards* 39-36
7. Bobcats 37-38
8. Knicks 33-43
9. Hawks 32-42
10. Cavaliers 31-45
11. Pistons 27-48
12. Celtics⁰ 23-52
13. Magic⁰ 21-54
14. Sixers⁰ 16-59
15. Bucks⁰ 14-61

ˢʷ - Clinched Southwest Division
ᴾ - Clinched Pacific Division
ᶜ - Clinched Central Division
ˢᵉ - Clinched Southeast Division
* - Clinched Playoff Berth
⁰ - Eliminated from Playoffs contention
Division leaders are capitalized and are guaranteed at least the 4th seed.






April 4, Final Scores/Leaders:

Spurs - 94 Thunder - 106
Mills: 21 Pts. Leonard: 3 Asts. Duncan: 8 Rebs./Durant: 28 Pts. Westbrook: 6 Asts. Ibaka: 12 Rebs.

Mavericks - 113 Clippers - 107
Nowitzki: 26 Pts. Ellis: 9 Asts. Nowitzki: 11 Rebs./Griffin: 25 Pts. Griffin: 11 Asts. Jordan: 15 Rebs.

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Saturday, April 5 Schedule: 14 games

Denver at Memphis - 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT on ESPN
Orlando at Charlotte - 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT
Indiana at Toronto - 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT
Cleveland at Atlanta - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT
Philadelphia at Boston - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT
Detroit at Brooklyn - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT
Minnesota at Miami - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT
Washington at New York - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT
Milwaukee at Chicago - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT
New Orleans at Utah - 9 pm ET, 6 pm PT
Oklahoma City at Houston - 9:30 pm ET, 6:30 pm PT on ESPN
Phoenix at Portland - 10 pm ET, 7 pm PT
Sacramento at Golden State - 10:30 pm ET, 7:30 pm PT
Dallas at L.A. Lakers - 10:30 pm ET, 7:30 pm PT

[tonistork]

Corey Brewer steady at line as Wolves win wild 2OT affair in Miami
Associated Press

MIAMI -- Making one free throw at the end of regulation wasn't enough for the Miami Heat, nor was making just one again at the end of the first overtime.

In the second extra session, one made all the difference for Minnesota.

Corey Brewer hit one of two free throws with 1.8 seconds left after getting a call on an awkward-looking play, and that was enough to help the Timberwolves escape a three-hour thriller with a 122-121 victory over the Heat on Friday night.

Kevin Love scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Minnesota, which got 24 from Chase Budinger, 15 from Gorgui Dieng and 13 apiece from J.J. Barea and Ricky Rubio, who also added 14 assists. Referee Ken Mauer called the last foul on Miami's Norris Cole, who was guarding Brewer near the basket as a pass was coming his way.

"You just want to see the players decide it at the end," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said calmly after the game. "I didn't get a good look at the replay. ... Still, we had many more opportunities to close that game out."

Ray Allen missed a wild jumper as time expired for Miami, which blew a chance to move two games clear of Indiana in the loss column atop the Eastern Conference standings.

LeBron James scored 34 points for the Heat, who got a season-high 24 from Mario Chalmers and 24 more from Chris Bosh, including a tying 3-pointer with 10.8 seconds left in the second overtime.

Miami went 24 for 30 from the line, but three of those six misses proved particularly costly. James missed one of two free throws with 16.2 seconds to go, and Chalmers missed the first of two on his trips to the line in the final seconds of both regulation and the first overtime.

The Heat (52-23, .693) remained percentage points ahead of Indiana (53-24, .688), which lost earlier Friday night at Toronto, 102-94.

Game notes

Allen returned from a five-game absence caused by the flu. ... Miami was again without Dwyane Wade (hamstring) and Greg Oden (back spasms). ... It was Rubio's first time playing at Miami. ... Minnesota was again without C Nikola Pekovic (ankle), who has missed 21 of the Timberwolves' last 31 games.

tonistorks view:
Minnesota is a .500 team and if they are in the Eastern Conference, they will be a playoff team for sure. But sadly, they are in a depth Western Conference and two (2) teams here made an impression (Portland & Phoenix). Better luck next time Wolves fans, maybe next year.

[tonistork]

Mike Scott scores 26 as Hawks hurt Cavaliers' playoff hopes
Associated Press

ATLANTA -- A hot-shooting night has the Atlanta Hawks back in sole possession of a playoff spot.

Poor shooting cost the Cleveland Cavaliers in a game they desperately needed.

Mike Scott ended a scoring slump with 26 points and the Hawks beat Cleveland 117-98 on Friday night in a costly setback for the Cavaliers' late-season playoff push.

Atlanta moved one game ahead of the New York Knicks, who lost to Washington 90-89, in the race for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Hawks had lost seven of eight but recovered with strong games by Scott and Jeff Teague, who had 20 points and 12 assists.

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown was unhappy to see his team struggle with so much on the line.

"They kicked our behind from the beginning to the end," Brown said.

The Cavaliers lost an opportunity to move within a game of eighth place. Entering the game, Cleveland had won five of six but fell three games behind the Hawks with only five games remaining in the regular season.

Dion Waiters led Cleveland with 23 points. Spencer Hawes had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Kyrie Irving and Luol Deng each had 13 points.

Scott made 12 of 13 shots from the field. The backup forward had a combined 16 points in his past four games. He topped that with 18 in the first half.

Paul Millsap had 16 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Hawks. Lou Williams also had 16 points and six assists.

Game notes

The Hawks completed a sweep of the three-game series. ... ... Hawes had 13 points in the third period.

tonistorks view:
There's a fight brewing for the coveted 8th spot out East, and it looks like Cleveland is almost out and that left Atlanta and the NY Knicks to fight for it.

[tonistork]

Suns' rally denies Trail Blazers a playoff spot for now
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Once Gerald Green gets going, he doesn't think he can be stopped.

Green scored 18 of his 32 points in the second half and the Phoenix Suns rallied for a 109-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

"That's what Gerald does," Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek said of Green, who made 12 of 20 shots from the field, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range. "When he gets going, you just kind of let him go.

"There are times when you go, `Uh, oh, what are we going to see next?' He got a little wild, but he feels nobody can ever stop him. That's the confidence he has."

Eric Bledsoe finished with 30 points and Goran Dragic added 19 for the Suns (45-31), who denied the Blazers (49-28) a chance to clinch a Western Conference playoff berth while beating Portland for the third time in four games.

Robin Lopez and LaMarcus Aldridge each scored 18 points for the Blazers, who had their four-game win streak snapped and dropped two games behind Houston for the West's No. 4 playoff spot.

"I'm glad we don't have to play Phoenix anymore," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. "Obviously, they're active on the offensive glass and extra possessions hurt us. Usually I like our chances when we hold a team to 40 percent shooting, but give the Suns credit."

The Suns, battling Dallas and Memphis for the West's final two playoff berths, took the lead for good at 81-80 when Green threw the ball off the backboard and dunked to open the fourth quarter, touching off a 20-5 run that all but put the game out of reach with 5:07 remaining.

Markieff Morris scored 12 points for the Suns, who finished with a 59-48 advantage in rebounds, a 24-6 advantage in fast-break points, and a 48-32 edge in points in the paint.

The Suns still face a daunting six-game stretch to close out the regular season, including home games against Oklahoma City and Memphis, and road games against San Antonio and Dallas.

"Our destiny is in our own hands, because we still play Dallas and Memphis," Dragic said. "Those two games are going to be really huge for us. Win those games and it's going to be really close."

Game notes

The last time the Suns had a player score at least 30 points off the bench was when Dragic had 32 points in a 124-115 loss at Utah on Jan. 25, 2010. . The 16-point loss was the second-worst loss for the Blazers at home this season, ranking behind a 98-81 loss to Memphis on Jan. 28. . The Suns went into Friday's gave averaging an NBA-best 18.6 fast-break points and had scored 20 or more fast-break points in 36 games this season. . Lopez was originally drafted by the Suns in the first round (15th pick overall) of the 2008 NBA draft and played four seasons with Phoenix from 2008-12, averaging 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 242 games.


tonistorks view:
Out West, a 3-cornered fight is going-on right now between Dallas, memphis and Phoenix for the last 2 playoff spots. And may the best 2 teams win.

[kingjames24szupladoh]

April 5, Final Scores/Leaders:

Nuggets - 92 Grizzlies - 100
Foye: 21 Pts. Foye: 4 Asts. Faried: 12 Rebs./Gasol: 24 Pts. Randolph: 4 Asts. Randolph: 15 Rebs.

Magic - 80 Bobcats - 91
Oladipo: 21 Pts. Nelson: 7 Asts. Harris: 8 Rebs./Jefferson: 29 Pts. Walker: 10 Asts. Jefferson: 16 Rebs.

Pacers - 94 Raptors - 102
George: 26 Pts. Hill: 5 Asts. West: 7 Rebs./Ross: 24 Pts. DeRozan: 9 Asts. Valanciunas: 9 Rebs.

Cavaliers - 98 Hawks - 117
Waiters: 23 Pts. Hawes: 4 Asts. Hawes: 10 Rebs./Scott: 26 Pts. Teague: 12 Asts. Millsap: 11 Rebs.

Sixers - 111 Celtics - 102
Sims: 24 Pts. Carter-Williams: 6 Asts. Sims: 9 Rebs./Bayless: 23 Pts. Rondo: 16 Asts. Bass: 11 Rebs.

Pistons - 104 Nets - 116
Drummond: 23 Pts. Jennings: 5 Asts. Drummond: 18 Rebs./Livingston: 23 Pts. Williams: 10 Asts. Collins: 5 Rebs.

Timberwolves - 122 Heat - 121
Love: 28 Pts. Rubio: 14 Asts. Love: 11 Rebs./James: 34 Pts. Chalmers: 6 Asts. Bosh: 9 Rebs.

Wizards - 90 Knicks - 89
Beal: 28 Pts. Wall: 9 Asts. Gortat: 10 Rebs./Smith: 32 Pts. Felton: 7 Asts. Anthony: 8 Rebs.

Bucks - 90 Bulls - 102
Knight: 22 Pts. Antetokoumpo: 5 Asts. Adrien: 9 Rebs./Butler: 17 Pts. Augustin: 6 Asts. Noah: 13 Rebs.

Pelicans - 96 Jazz - 100
Morrow: 26 Pts. Roberts: 6 Asts. Davis: 6 Rebs./Hayward: 21 Pts. Burke: 8 Asts. Favors: 9 Rebs.

Thunder - 107 Rockets - 111
Durant: 28 Pts. Jackson: 7 Asts. Durant: 12 Rebs./Harden: 39 Pts. Harden: 7 Asts. Asik: 12 Rebs.

Suns - 109 Blazers - 93
Green: 32 Pts. Smith: 4 Asts. Plumlee: 16 Rebs./Aldridge: 18 Pts. Lillard: 7 Asts. Lopez: 13 Rebs.

Kings - 69 Warriors - 102
Cousins: 19 Pts. McCallum: 10 Asts. Cousins: 11 Rebs./Thompson: 21 Pts. Curry: 5 Asts. Green: 10 Rebs.

Mavericks - 107 Lakers - 95
Nowitzki: 27 Pts. Ellis: 9 Asts. Dalembert: 14 Rebs./Meeks: 25 Pts. Marshall: 8 Asts. Johnson: 11 Rebs.




STANDINGS:
West:
1. SPURSˢʷ 59-17
2. THUNDERᴺᵂ 55-20
3. CLIPPERSᴾ 54-23
4. Rockets* 50-25
5. Blazers 49-28
6. Warriors 47-29
7. Mavericks 46-31
8. Grizzlies 45-31
9. Suns 45-31
10. Timberwolves⁰ 38-37
11. Nuggets⁰ 33-43
12. Pelicans⁰ 32-44
13. Kings⁰ 27-49
14. Lakers⁰ 25-51
15. Jazz⁰ 24-52

East:
1. HEATˢᵉ 52-23
2. PACERSᶜ 53-24
3. RAPTORS* 44-32
4. Bulls* 44-32
5. Nets* 41-34
6. Wizards* 40-36
7. Bobcats 38-38
8. Hawks 33-42
9. Knicks 33-44
10. Cavaliers 31-46
11. Pistons 27-49
12. Celtics⁰ 23-53
13. Magic⁰ 21-55
14. Sixers⁰ 17-59
15. Bucks⁰ 14-62

ᴺᵂ - Clinched Northwest Division
ˢʷ - Clinched Southwest Division
ᴾ - Clinched Pacific Division
ᶜ - Clinched Central Division
ˢᵉ - Clinched Southeast Division
* - Clinched Playoff Berth
⁰ - Eliminated from Playoffs contention
Division leaders are capitalized and are guaranteed at least the 4th seed.

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Sunday, April 6 Schedule: 6 games

Minnesota at Orlando - 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT
Chicago at Washington - 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT
Charlotte at Cleveland - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT
Boston at Detroit - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT
Brooklyn at Philadelphia - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT
Toronto at Milwaukee - 8:30 pm ET, 5:30 pm PT

[tonistork]

Bobcats top Cavs in OT, into playoffs for first time since 2010
Associated Press

CLEVELAND -- Al Jefferson scored 24 points, including seven in overtime, and the Charlotte Bobcats clinched a playoff spot with a 96-94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.

Charlotte is in the postseason for the second time in its 10-year history and the first time since 2010. The Bobcats (39-38) are over .500 for the second time this season and hold seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

Kyrie Irving scored a career-high 44 points for Cleveland. The Cavaliers (31-47) trail eighth-place Atlanta by 3 1/2 games for the final playoff spot in the East.

Irving was 16 of 31 from the field, including five 3-pointers. He added eight assists and seven rebounds.

Gerald Henderson's basket gave Charlotte a 90-89 lead with 1:08 remaining and the Bobcats made four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

tonistorks view:
Cleveland line-up is much stronger compared to Bobcats but MJ's team will advance to the big dance while Cavaliers looks like a lottery team again. Thanks but no thanks to the overated Mike Brown. Again as i said before, Brown became a household name in coaching because of the exploits of LBJ while King James still playing for the Cavaliers. Without Lebron, Mike Brown is just an ordinary coach.

[Zurca]

NBA Power Rankings: Pacers continue to fall from Y! Sports

1. San Antonio Spurs (60-17; last week's ranking: 1): Tony Parker left Sunday's win over Memphis with back spasms. He has missed 10 games this season with lower back tightness.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (55-21; last week's ranking: 2): The Thunder have a one-game lead over the Clippers – two games in the loss column – for the West's No. 2 playoff seed. They visit the Clippers on Wednesday.

3. Los Angeles Clippers (55-23; last week's ranking: 3): The Clippers own a 2-1 lead in the season series with the Thunder. The Clippers also are 32-6 this season at Staples Center.

4. Miami Heat (53-23; last week's ranking: 4): Miami plays host to Indiana on Friday in a game that will help determine who lands the East's top seed. Indiana has a 2-1 season series lead.

5. Houston Rockets (51-25; last week's ranking: 5): The Rockets appear to be settling into the West's fourth seed. Houston's lone game remaining against a playoff team is against the Spurs.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (50-28; last week's ranking: 7): The West's fifth-seeded Blazers play host to sixth-seeded Golden State on Sunday. The Warriors lead the season series 2-1.

7. Golden State Warriors (48-29; last week's ranking: 8 ): David Lee's timetable to return is unknown because of a nerve irritation in his right hamstring.

8. Indiana Pacers (53-25; last week's ranking: 6): The Pacers' struggles hit a low point with Sunday's 19-point home loss to Atlanta. The Pacers have lost seven of their past 10.

9. Dallas Mavericks (47-31; last week's ranking: 11): The Mavericks have won four straight games and are 1½ games behind the Warriors for the West's sixth seed.

10. Phoenix Suns (45-31; last week's ranking: 9): The Suns currently own the West's eighth seed and have a one-game lead over Memphis after their huge win over the Thunder on Sunday.

11. Memphis Grizzlies (45-32; last week's ranking: 10): Memphis is in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010 after advancing to the Western Conference finals last season.

12. Toronto Raptors (45-32; last week's ranking: 12): Toronto hopes to hold off Chicago for the East's third seed. The Raptors finish the season against the Sixers, Knicks (twice), Pistons and Bucks.

13. Chicago Bulls (45-32; last week's ranking: 13): The Bulls finish the season against Minnesota, Detroit, New York, Orlando and Charlotte. Toronto appears to have the easier schedule.

14. Brooklyn Nets (42-34; last week's ranking: 14): Kevin Garnett returned Saturday in a win over Philadelphia after missing 19 straight games with back spasms.

15. Washington Wizards (40-37; last week's ranking: 15): The Wizards are one game ahead of Charlotte for the East's sixth seed. The teams meet in Washington on Wednesday.

16. Charlotte Bobcats (39-38; last week's ranking: 17): Whoever lands the East's No. 6 seed will avoid Miami and Indiana in the first round.

17. Atlanta Hawks (34-42; last week's ranking: 19): The Hawks hold a two-game lead over the Knicks – three in the loss column – for the East's final playoff seed. Three of Atlanta's six remaining games are against teams with losing records.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (38-38; last week's ranking: 16): The T'wolves will again miss the playoffs. They haven't reached the postseason since 2004.

19. New York Knicks (33-45; last week's ranking: 20): The Knicks, losers of two straight, finish the regular season against playoff teams in Toronto (twice), Chicago and Brooklyn.

20. Denver Nuggets (33-44; last week's ranking: 21): The Nuggets must give the Magic the least favorable of their 2014 first-round pick or the one they acquired from New York.

21. New Orleans Pelicans (32-45; last week's ranking: 18): The Pelicans' first-round pick is top-five protected. If that pick isn't in the top five, it goes to Philadelphia from the Jrue Holiday trade.

Cleveland22. Cleveland Cavaliers (31-47; last week's ranking: 22): The Cavs haven't made the playoffs since LeBron James left, and that streak figures to continue this year.

23. Sacramento Kings (27-50; last week's ranking: 23) Rookie point guard Ray McCallum has showed some promise of late averaging 14.2 points and 7.4 assists the past 10 games.

24. Detroit Pistons (28-49; last week's ranking: 25): Detroit's Andre Drummond is the first player since the 1997-98 season to have more than 400 offensive rebounds.

25. Los Angeles Lakers (25-52; last week's ranking: 24): The Lakers are one loss from tying the most in franchise history. The 1957-58 Minneapolis Lakers lost 53 games.

26. Utah Jazz (24-53; last week's ranking: 26): Tyrone Corbin and his coaching staff have contracts ending June 30. They expect to learn their fate by the end of April, a source said.

27. Orlando Magic (22-55; last week's ranking: 28): Orlando is leading a close race with Boston, Utah and the Lakers for the NBA's third-worst record.

28. Boston Celtics (23-54; last week's ranking: 27): The Celtics own the NBA's longest current losing streak at eight games and can reach the 55-loss mark for the first time in seven years.

29. Philadelphia 76ers (17-60, last week's ranking: 30): Guard Michael Carter-Williams leads all rookies in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and free throws attempted per game.

30. Milwaukee Bucks (14-63; last week's ranking: 29): Even with the Sixers' 26-game losing streak, Milwaukee has the NBA's worst record and is in position for the best draft lottery odds.

[kingjames24szupladoh]

April 7, Final Scores/Leaders:

Knicks - 91 Heat - 102
Smith: 32 Pts. Anthony: 6 Asts. Chandler: 11 Rebs./James: 38 Pts. James: 6 Asts. Haslem: 11 Rebs.

Lakers - 97 Clippers - 120
Hill: 22 Pts. Marshall: 11 Asts. Sacre: 10 Rebs./Paul: 23 Pts. Paul: 6 Asts. Jordan: 12 Rebs.

Mavericks - 93 Kings - 91
Ellis: 23 Pts. Harris: 7 Asts. Dalembert: 11 Rebs./Gay: 32 Pts. McCallum: 9 Asts. Cousins: 10 Rebs.

Hawks - 107 Pacers - 88
Teague: 25 Pts. Mack: 7 Asts. Millsap: 11 Rebs./George: 18 Pts. West: 6 Asts. George: 7 Rebs.

Nuggets - 125 Rockets - 130
Fournier: 26 Pts. Brooks: 15 Asts. Faried: 13 Rebs./Harden: 32 Pts. Harden: 10 Asts. Asik: 23 Rebs.

Grizzlies - 92 Spurs - 112
Johnson: 20 Pts. Conley: 6 Asts. Gasol: 6 Rebs./Leonard: 26 Pts. Leonard: 5 Asts. Mills: 6 Rebs.

Jazz - 102 Warriors - 130
Burke: 24 Pts. Burke: 15 Asts. Kanter: 12 Rebs./Thompson: 33 Pts. Curry: 16 Asts. Bogut: 11 Rebs.

Pelicans - 94 Blazers - 100
Morrow: 17 Pts. Evans: 8 Asts. Aminu: 9 Rebs./Aldridge: 25 Pts. Lillard: 5 Asts. Aldridge: 18 Rebs.

Thunder - 115 Suns - 122
Durant: 38 Pts. Westbrook: 8 Asts. Durant: 11 Rebs./Dragic: 26 Pts. Dragic: 5 Asts. Tucker: 7 Rebs.




STANDINGS:
West:
1. SPURSˢʷ 60-17
2. THUNDERᴺᵂ 55-21
3. CLIPPERSᴾ 55-23
4. Rockets* 51-25
5. Blazers* 50-28
6. Warriors 48-29
7. Mavericks 47-31
8. Suns 46-31
9. Grizzlies 45-32
10. Timberwolves⁰ 38-38
11. Nuggets⁰ 33-44
12. Pelicans⁰ 32-45
13. Kings⁰ 27-50
14. Lakers⁰ 25-52
15. Jazz⁰ 24-53

East:
1. HEATˢᵉ 53-23
2. PACERSᶜ 53-25
3. RAPTORS* 45-32
4. Bulls* 45-32
5. Nets* 42-34
6. Wizards* 40-37
7. Bobcats* 39-38
8. Hawks 34-42
9. Knicks 33-45
10. Cavaliers 31-47
11. Pistons 28-49
12. Celtics⁰ 23-54
13. Magic⁰ 22-55
14. Sixers⁰ 17-60
15. Bucks⁰ 14-63

ᴺᵂ - Clinched Northwest Division
ˢʷ - Clinched Southwest Division
ᴾ - Clinched Pacific Division
ᶜ - Clinched Central Division
ˢᵉ - Clinched Southeast Division
* - Clinched Playoff Berth
⁰ - Eliminated from Playoffs contention
Division leaders are capitalized and are guaranteed at least the 4th seed.

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Wednesday, April 9 Schedule: 6 games

Detroit at Atlanta – 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT
San Antonio at Minnesota – 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT
Brooklyn at Miami - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT on TNT
Dallas at Utah - 9 pm ET, 6 pm PT
Oklahoma City at Sacramento - 10 pm ET, 7 pm PT
Houston at L.A. Lakers - 10:30 pm ET, 7:30 pm PT on TNT