NBA – Rudy Gobert Plante 35 points, Nikola Jokic joins a well -closed group

Aaron Gordon finished best Denver marker with 33 points, while Jamal Murray, back after six absence matches, played a crucial role in the Money Time with 15 points and 7 passes, including one back for Jokic. Thanks to this victory, the Nuggets, NBA 2023 champion, brought their assessments to 49 victories for 32 defeats, offering them a real chance of winning fourth place and the advantage of the field for the playoffs.

Behind Denver, no one lets go. Minnesota, carried by a Rudy Gobert in fire, on the attack (35 points, equal personal record) as in defense (11 rebounds, including 8 defensive), won against the Nets of Brooklyn (117-91). Golden State, easy winner in Portland (103-86) and the Clippers, victorious from a small sacramento point (101-100), for a seventh consecutive success, continue to hang before the last game of the regular season on Sunday.

Oklahoma, already assured of first place to the west, easily beat Utah Jazz 145-111, despite the absence of his best marker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, competitor of Jokic for the title of MVP. Aaron Wiggins (35 points) and Isaiah Joe (32 points) brilliantly supplemented him in this one -way match.

In the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers, also at the top of their conference, overthrew the New York Knicks, however third, to win 108-102. Darius Garland scored 26 points, half of which in the last quarter, filling a deficit of 23 points. The defeat of the Indiana Pacers against Orlando Magic (129-115), however, allows Knicks to keep their 3rd place.

The New Orleans Pelicans underwent the heaviest defeat in their story in the regular season, laminated 153-104 by the Miami Heat. Bam Adebayo, in just 22 minutes, signed 23 points and 12 rebounds, leading an intractable Miami team.

The Heat counted up to 52 points ahead of pelicans diminished by injuries. But despite this demonstration, their position in play-offs remains unchanged: Miami is blocked in 10th place and will have to go through a play-off match against the Chicago Bulls next Wednesday.

Summary of qualified franchises for play-offs, or for play-down (dams), for the end of the NBA regular season on April 13:

Qualified for play-offs (places 1 to 6): Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons

Qualified for the play-ins (dams, places 7 to 10): Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat

Eliminés (places 11 à 15): Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia Sixers, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards

Qualified for play-offs (places 1 to 6): Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers

Insured of a place in play-offs or play-ins (dams, places 7 to 10): Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies

Qualified for Play-InS (dams, places 7 to 10): Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks

Eliminated (places 11 to 15): Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz

Editor's note: the dams (play-ins) are scheduled from April 15 to 18

Beginning of the play-offs on April 19

Conference finals from May 20

NBA finals from June 8