Despite not seeing action, the New York Knicks are officially postseason-bound thanks to the Miami Heat. Elsewhere, Indiana went wild in D.C. and Josh Giddey hit a wild game-winner in Chicago.
New York became the fourth team to punch a playoff ticket while Dallas jumped back inside the West Play-in picture and one cold-blooded Josh Giddey game-winner completed Chicago’s epic comeback. | Photos: Mavs, Bulls, Knicks
A wild NBA Friday saw an offensive avalanche from the Indiana Pacers and a comeback for the ages for Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks became the fourth team to punch a playoff ticket as the Dallas Mavericks jumped right back into the West Play-in picture.
CLUTCH GIDDEY SINKS LAKERS; PACERS GO WILD IN D.C.
- Chicago Bulls (33-40) def. LA Lakers (44-29), 119-117: In perhaps one of the most bizarre endings in league history, the Bulls drilled three triples in the final 10.3 seconds capped off by a wild Josh Giddey half-court game-winner to stun the Lakers.
[ALSO READ: Josh Giddey drains half-court game-winner in 18-point Bulls comeback vs Lakers]
- Indiana Pacers (43-30) def. Washington Wizards (16-57), 162-109: Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers tallied a single-game franchise record in both points and threes made in a blowout win against the Wizards.
- Pace and Space: Indiana’s 162 markers is also the most points by any team this season so far and their 27 treys toppled the 23 makes they hit in 2023.
- Cleveland Cavaliers (59-14) def. San Antonio Spurs (31-41), 124-116: Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen combined for 54 points in a third straight Cavs win at expense of the Spurs.
- Sacramento Kings (36-37) def. Portland Trail Blazers (32-42), 128-107: Domantas Sabonis tallied a monster 23-point, 19-rebound double-double, tying Nikola Jokic for the most this season with 53 and the Kings arrested a four-game slide.
KNICKS SECURE PLAYOFF SPOT VIA HEAT WIN; MAVS BACK IN WEST PLAY-IN PICTURE
- Miami Heat (32-41) def. Atlanta Hawks (35-38), 122-112: Tyler Herro uncorked 36 points as the Heat tallied their first three-game winning streak since mid-January after grounding the Hawks.
- Postseason-bound: With the Hawks’ loss, the New York Knicks became the fourth team to clinch a playoff spot for the third straight year and fourth in the last five.
- Dallas Mavericks (36-38) def. Orlando Magic (35-39), 101-92: Anthony Davis returned and the Mavericks leaned on a strong second half to snap the Magics’ three-game winning run.
- Every Game Counts: The win pushed Dallas back into the West Play-in territory, now occupying the no. 10 spot ahead of the Phoenix Suns (35-38) and just half-game behind the ninth-ranked Sacramento Kings (36-37).
- OKC Thunder (61-12) def. Memphis Grizzlies (44-29), 125-101: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped his league-leading 45th 30-point game, helping the West no. 1 Thunder to set a OKC-record 61st win after drubbing the Grizzlies.
[ALSO READ: Thunder set franchise record with 61 wins after rolling past Ja Morant-less Grizzlies]
- Houston Rockets (48-26) def. Utah Jazz (16-58), 121-110: Alperen Sengun wreaked havoc with 33 points and 10 rebounds for his 43rd double-double of the season as the Rockets won their 10th game in the last 11 games.