Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent memory, erasing a 24-point deficit in the fourth to stun the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Cleveland locked up the top seed in the Eastern Conference on the same night the LA Clippers and Milwaukee also emerged victorious. | Photos: Clippers, Cavaliers, Bucks
It was indeed a wild 10-game NBA Wednesday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will enter the postseason as the East top seed for the first time in nine years, while the wide-open nature of the Western Conference playoff race saw two games separating the six teams, with less than a week left in the regular season.
CAVS WREST EAST NO. 1 SEED; BUCKS COMPLETE ABSURD COMEBACK
- Cleveland Cavaliers (63-16) def. Chicago Bulls (36-43), 135-113: For the first time since the 2015-16 season, the Cavaliers earned the East top playoff seed after crushing the Bulls via 22-point home rout.
- First Without the King: It marked the fourth time in franchise history that Cleveland claimed the no. 1 postseason rank and the first time they accomplished the feat without club legend and four-time champion LeBron James.
- Milwaukee Bucks (45-34) def. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-33), 110-103: In a comeback of the ages, the Milwaukee Bucks erased a 24-point deficit in the fourth quarter to stun the Timberwolves for a fifth straight victory.
- Come-Buck(s): Trailing 71-95 with 10:09 left in regulation, Milwaukee went on a blistering 34-3 run to complete the fourth largest regular season comeback in franchise history and thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo's third straight triple-double outing.
- Boston Celtics (59-20) def. New York Knicks (50-29), 119-117: Kristaps Porzingis hit the go-ahead triple with 40 seconds left in overtime that spelled the difference of a wild Celtics escape against the Knicks in MSG.
- Road Warriors: Porzingis matched his season-high 34 points on top of eight threes as the defending champions locked up the no. 2 seed in the East. Boston also joined the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors and the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls as the only teams in league history to win 33 games or more on the road in a single season.
- Indiana Pacers (48-31) def. Washington Wizards (17-62), 104-98: Pascal Siakam registered a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double to pace a fifth straight Pacers win, tightening their grip to the East no. 4 spot.
- Orlando Magic (39-40) def. Atlanta Hawks (37-42), 119-112: In a potential play-in preview, Paolo Banchero uncorked his sixth 30-point game in the last nine games and the Magic now moved two games ahead of the Hawks in the race for the no. 7 seed.
THUNDER SET FRANCHISE RECORD IN WINS; WEST PLAYOFF PICTURE STILL UP IN THE AIR
- OKC Thunder (65-14) def. LA Lakers (48-31), 136-120: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the NBA-best Thunder banked on a strong 39-22 fourth quarter to get one back over the Lakers, becoming the first team since the 2017-18 Houston Rockets to record 65 wins or more.
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- One Rumbling Assist: With the Lakers' loss, the Houston formally secured the West no. 2 playoff seed with three games left in their schedule. It marked the first time since the 2017-18 season that Houston earned a top two seed in the postseason.
- Memphis Grizzlies (47-32) def. Charlotte Hornets (19-60), 124-100: Make it three straight wins for Ja Morant and the Grizzlies after stinging the Hornets in Chapel Hill.
- Golden State Warriors (47-32) def. Phoenix Suns (35-44), 133-95: The Warriors regained their footing after a blowout win in Phoenix, improving to 22-6 since the Jimmy Butler trade.
[ALSO READ: Warriors climb back to West no. 5 after 38-point beatdown of slumping Suns]
- LA Clippers (47-32) def. San Antonio Spurs (32-47), 122-117: Ivica Zubac wrecked havoc with his fourth 20-20 game of the season to propel the Clippers past the Spurs and rose to joint-fourth in the West.
- Blink and You'll Miss It: Through April 9, the Clippers, Nuggets, Warriors, and Grizzlies are all tied at 47-32 for the fourth through the seventh spots in the West. Minnesota’s deflating loss to Milwaukee put the Timberwolves at 46-33 and in solo no. 8.
- Brooklyn Nets (26-53) def. New Orleans Pelicans (21-58), 119-114: Trendon Watford poured 22 points to help the Nets halt a five-game home skid at expense of the also-ran Pelicans.