L’image provient de Reuters. Written by Elizabeth Botcherby. Auteur pour BBC Sports. 6 minutes ago. The Atlanta Hawks clinched a playoff berth and the Southeast Division title with a 124-102 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. The Hawks, needing just one victory from their final two games to lock in a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference, dominated the third quarter with 35 points to turn their 61-48 halftime edge into a 96-65 lead. Guard CJ McCollum led the Hawks with a game-high 29 points, securing their first divisional title since 2003 and bypassing the play-in tournament—reserved for teams seeded seventh through tenth—for the first time in five years. Veteran LeBron James became the fourth player in NBA history to reach 12,000 career assists, aiding the Los Angeles Lakers in earning home-court advantage for the first playoff round via a 101-136 victory over the Phoenix Suns. James added 45 points, six rebounds, and 12 assists as the Lakers notched their 21st win in 30 games, ensuring a top-four finish in the Western Conference. Former Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton holds the NBA’s all-time assists record at 15,806, followed by Chris Paul (12,057), Jason Kidd (107,725), and James (12,000). Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics locked up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a commanding 144-118 triumph over the New Orleans Pelicans. The 18-time NBA champions matched a record with 23 three-pointers, powered by forward Sam Hauser’s eight, while also capturing the Atlantic Division crown. As a result, the New York Knicks—who had previously defeated the Celtics—must settle for the third seed despite a 112-95 win over the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors dropped to sixth place after the loss, tying the seventh-place Orlando Magic at 45-36 with one regular-season game remaining. The Magic defeated the Chicago Bulls 127-103, extending their winning streak to five games. Victor Wembanyama, back after missing one game due to injury, shone for the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs in their 139-120 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The 22-year-old MVP candidate tallied 40 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. The Denver Nuggets kept their pursuit of third place in the Western Conference alive with a 127-107 victory over the reigning champion and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Related topics: Basketball.
