Russell Westbrook triple-double? The victory of the sorcerers? Welp. Must be a day ending in -y. Washington’s astonishing end-of-season run continued Friday with a 122-93 smackdown against the Cavaliers, as Westbrook capped the team’s excellent April (11-5) by breaking the triple threshold. -double just 25 minutes from the game. He finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for the No.31 triple-double this year and 177 overall – just four behind Oscar Robertson for the all-time lead.

The Wizards now hold a three-game advantage over the Bulls for this crucial 10th seed, while also being just 0.5 games behind the Pacers (9th) and 1.5 behind the Hornets (8th) with nine to go. . Quickly get to the point where those Play-In Tournament matches might leave the nominal “ favorites ” a little nervous.

Eastern Conference

6. Boston Celtics (🔼)

Registration: 34-30
Upcoming matches (7th): 0.5 * Hold the tiebreaker against MIA
Second leg (5th): – * ATL holds the tiebreaker

Last result: 143-140 (OT) W vs SAS
Next opponent: against POR on Sunday

Whenever it looks like the Celtics have turned a corner this season, they hit a wall. Jayson Tatum walked it on Friday night: career record 60 points tied the Celtics’ single-game record (set by Larry Legend) and fueled an insane 32-point comeback that will leave Spurs in nightmares.

7. Miami Heat (🔽)

Registration: 33-30
Upcoming games (11th): 7.0
Return games (6th): 0.5 * BOS holds the tiebreaker

Last result: 116-111 W vs SAS
Next opponent: @ CLE Saturday

The Heat beat San Antonio to give Erik Spoelstra his 600th coaching victory, making him just the sixth to do this with a team. The No. 601 victory could be on the bridge on Saturday in Cleveland, and this is the time of the season to win the games you should.

8. Charlotte Hornets (-)

Registration: 30-32
Matches to come (11th): 4.5
Return games (6th): 3.0

Last result: 120-111 L @ BOS
Next opponent: against DET on Saturday

The Hornets – hang around long enough for once-heavy injuries start to heal – took an L in Boston, but have a chance to rebound against the Pistons.

9. Indiana Pacers (-)

File: 29-33
Upcoming games (11th): 3.5
Return games (6th): 4.0

Last result: 130-113 L vs BKN
Next opponent: @ OKC Saturday

The Pacers lost Malcolm Brogdon to a hamstring injury Thursday and then the Kevin Durant stroke game (42 for Soul Thief). Oklahoma City has taken a nosedive out of the competitive arena, and road competition could prove to be crucial.

10. Washington Wizards (🔼)

File: 29-34
Upcoming games (11th): 3.0
Return games (6th): 4.5

Latest result: 122-93 W @ CLE
Next opponent: @ DAL Saturday

The triple-doubles keep coming, and the wins keep following. Oh, and this Bradley Beal guy could take the goal scorer. It took most of the season (and dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak) for this to make sense, but we’re all seeing the light now that they’ve found their rhythm.

11. Chicago Bulls (🔽)

File: 26-37
Return games (10th): 3.0

Last result: 108-98 L vs MIL
Next opponent: @ ATL Saturday

The Bulls, who traded for Nikola Vucevic believing a leap forward was part of the package, have since found their playoff dreams tied to the ground. A loss not nearly as close as the score to division rival Milwaukee leaves them 3.0 games with nine to go.

12. Toronto Raptors (-)

File: 26-37
Return games (10th): 2.5

Last result: 121-111 L @ DEN
Next opponent: @ UTA Saturday

They’re tied with the Bulls, 3.0 games behind the Wizards for 10th, but don’t even have that paltry tiebreaker. They’re carrying those heavy odds in Utah tomorrow, where they had better hope the Jazz’s back-to-back opener in Phoenix has taken part of Utah’s legs.

Western Conference

6. Dallas Mavericks (-)

Record: 35-27
Upcoming games (7th): 0.5
Return games (5th): 0.5

Last result: 115-105 W vs DET
Next opponent: against WAS on Saturday

Dallas did not have Luka and lost Kristaps Porzingis early Thursday. Tim Hardaway and his 42 points came to the rescue. Saturday’s game with Washington has key implications for both teams and could be a low-key showstopper.

7. Portland Trail Blazers (🔼)

Record: 34-28
Upcoming games (11th): 7.0
Return games (6th): 0.5

Last result: 128-109 vs BKN
Next opponent: @ BOS Sunday

Damian Lillard sparked the logo launch shootout (32 points, 8-13 3P) while adding seven boards and nine assists, Jusuf Nurkic hit the Nets in the soft end of their defense and Portland crossed over against a Brooklyn sans KD. The Celtics will be high on Sunday after a thrilling OT win, but could be wobbly early on, giving Portland a chance to capitalize.

8. Memphis Grizzlies (🔼)

Record: 32-30
Matches to come (11th): 4.5
Return games (6th): 3.0

Last result: 92-75 W against ORL
Next opponent: @ ORL Saturday

After beating the Magic with a full performance Friday in Memphis, the Grizzlies head to Orlando for the back half of that home game. A similar result would keep the sixth – and a total escape from the Play-In traps – close at hand.

9. San Antonio Spurs (🔽)

Registration: 31-31
Upcoming games (11th): 3.5
Return games (6th): 4.0

Last result: 143-140 (OT) L @ BOS
Next opponent: against PHI on Sunday

Yikes. Talk about the kind of loss that you can hardly afford in the midst of it all. Spurs led with up to 32 points – and 29 at halftime – only to take an L overtime after allowing Jayson Tatum to drop a Celtics record 60. With Philly on bridge, bouncing back won’t be easy .

10. Warriors of the Golden State (-)

Registration: 31-32
Upcoming games (11th): 3.0
Return games (6th): 4.5

Last result: 126-114 L @ MIN
Next opponent: @ HOU Saturday (ESPN)

A big effort from Steph was wasted in the last one, and now the Warriors have to make sure they’re not the second team in a row to let Kevin Porter Jr. put 50 on them.

11. New Orleans Pelicans (-)

Registration: 28-35
Return games (10th): 3.0

Last result: 109-95 W @ OKC
Next opponent: @ MIN Saturday

The Pelicans won a game they needed if they were to continue this pursuit, and continuing the Midwestern swing only puts them against a Timberwolves team ready to play spoilers, with Anthony Edwards finally finding his form and Karl- Anthony Towns at the controls of the middle.

12. Sacramento Kings (🔼)

File: 26-37
Return games (10th): 5.0

Last result: 110-106 W @ LAL
Next opponent: @ DAL Sunday

LeBron James returned to the fight on Friday, but he was shaking off the rust, and the Kings took the opportunity to steal a season-ending W from the defending champions. They are in this area by Bubble standards, but five games and two teams is a tough task with only nine to play. Getting to Dallas doesn’t help.

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