The Milwaukee Bucks made NBA history this weekend without raising a finger. While Giannis Antetokounmpo and his team-mates sat out Sunday’s matches with a bye, the Chicago Bulls did it for them.
The Bulls beat the Washington Wizards – and that was enough to help the Bucks became the quickest team in NBA history to clinch a playoff place.
The Bulls victory enabled the Bucks to secure their place via 56 games by February 23. This topped the old mark set by the Golden State Warriors on February 25 in 2017. In their case the Warriors achieved it after 58 appearances.
A career-high 53 points from Bradley Beal were not enough to save the Wizards, who went down 126-117.
Coby White’s 33 points saw him join Michael Jordan as the only Bulls rooky to pick-up 30 or more points in successive games.
LeBron and the Lakers come out tops against Celtics
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers meanwhile came out on top against Jayson Tatum’s Boston Celtics on Sunday. And yes, this despite Tatum’s standout 41 points haul at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
It was close. Oh so close for the Western Conference leaders! The Lakers only prevailed to win 114-112 thanks to some last gasp magic by their 35-year-old 6ft 9in super star James. He nailed an awesome fallaway jump shot with just 30 seconds remaining.
“I had been setting him [Tatum] up all night with the back-down to the drop step to the baseline,” James said. “I figured he would sit on it, thinking I would try it again, so I just went to my back-down, gave a little Dream Shake to the baseline and was able to open up the middle and get my fadeaway.”
James finished with 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as the Western Conference leaders extended their winning streak to five games.
Celtics great Bill Russell watched from the sideline as Lakers power forward Anthony Davis posted 32 points and 13 rebounds. This was against opponents who were without Kemba Walker (left knee injury) for the second straight game.
Meantime Zion Williamson picked up 28 points and seven rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the struggling Golden State Warriors 115-101. Jrue Holiday scored 11 of his 23 points in the final quarter.
Raptors demolish the Pacers
Double-doubles from Serge Ibaka (15 points, 15 rebounds) and Kyle Lowry (16 points, 11 assists) were inspirational drivers when NBA champions, the Toronto Raptors, demolished the Indiana Pacers 127-81.
Right now the Raptors (45-15), Canada’s first-ever NBA champions, are sitting in second place, some way behind the fast-flying Bucks (48-8) in the Easter Conference. But don’t write them off just yet. They are putting in a strong sprint for the finish line.
A 131-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs was memorable one for the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was Thunders’ largest victory margin ever against the Spurs. Chris Paul (12 points, 10 assists), Steven Adams (21 points, 14 rebounds) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22 points, 13 rebounds) all had double-doubles for the Thunder.
Spurs have a night to forget
San Antonio had a night to forget. The Spurs were just 36.9 per cent from the field, making just 38 of 103 shots. Stars LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan both struggled. Aldridge was three of 10 from the field and he missed all five three-point attempts for eight points. Meanwhile, DeRozan was four of 12 for 11 points.
All of the NBA’s Sunday results
Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics
Denver Nuggets 128-116 Minnesota Timberwolves
Toronto Raptors 127-81 Indiana Pacers
Chicago Bulls 126-117 Washington Wizards
Oklahoma City Thunder 131-103 San Antonio Spur
New Orleans Pelicans 115-101 Golden State Warriors
Portland Trail Blazers 107-104 Detroit Pistons
Hawks at 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers (35-22) are expected to be without injured All-Star Ben Simmons for Monday’s visit by the Atlanta Hawks (17-41). Simmons hurt his back in the away loss to the NBA-leading Bucks.
Meanwhile though awful on the road, the 76ers – currently fifth in the Eastern Conference – boast the best home record (26-2) in the league.