UNDATED (AP) β The Memphis Grizzlies became the fourth NBA team to clinch a playoff berth by earning their third straight win. They also retained a 2 1/2-game lead over Houston in the Southwest Division as Zach Randolph scored 23 points and Marc Gasol (gah-SAHL’) added 21 in a 103-82 rout of New York. The Rockets kept pace as James Harden poured in 19 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter of Houston’s 110-100 win at Indiana.
UNDATED (AP) β Evan Turner had a triple-double of 19 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as Boston ripped Brooklyn 110-91 to end a three-game skid. Avery Bradley chipped in 20 points to help the Celtics take control of the final Eastern Conference playoff berth, moving a half-game ahead of Charlotte. The Hornets were 98-86 losers to Chicago as Pau Gasol (pow gah-SAHL’) delivered 27 points and 12 rebounds to push Chicago within three games of Central Division-leading Cleveland.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) β Stephen (STEH’-fehn) Curry shot 5-for-8 from 3-point range and finished with team highs of 24 points and six assists in the Golden State Warriors’ sixth consecutive win, 107-76 over Washington. Draymond Green added 13 points for the Warriors, who outscored the Wizards 29-8 in the third quarter to go up by 24. The Wizards have dropped 12 of their last 15 road games and are 2 Β½ games behind Chicago in the fight for home-court advantage in the first round of the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs.
OTTAWA (AP) β The Ottawa Senators have moved one point ahead of Boston for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth after erupting for four goals in the third period of a 5-2 comeback win against San Jose. Mika Zibanejad (MEE’-kah zih-BAH’-nih-zhahd) tied the game 2 Β½ minutes into the third period before Alex Chiasson (CHAY’-sahn) and Jean-Gabriel Pageau (pah-ZHOH’) scored 72 seconds apart to put Ottawa ahead 4-2 with 6:37 remaining. Mike Hoffman had a goal and two assists for the Senators, who are 15-1-1 in their last 17 games.
UNDATED (AP) β The Minnesota Wild remain seventh in the NHL’s wild Western Conference playoff race, one point ahead of Winnipeg and five in front of Los Angeles after all three won on Monday. Thomas Vanek had a goal and an assist to back Devan Dubnyk’s (DOOB’-nihks) 35-save performance in Minnesota’s 2-1 triumph at Toronto. Ondrej Pavelec (AHN’-dray PAV’-lehk) made 33 saves in the Jets’ 4-1 verdict over Edmonton after Anze Kopitar (AHN’-zhay KOH’-pih-tahr) scored the insurance goal and had two assists to lead the Kings past New Jersey, 3-1.
