From emotional returns to clutch heroics to heated playoff positioning, a 10-game NBA Thursday also saw teams punching and locking up play-in berths and seeds.
DONCIC WINS FIRST GAME BACK IN DALLAS; BARNES SAVES THE DAY FOR SPURS
- LA Lakers (49-31) def. Dallas Mavericks (28-32), 112-97: In an emotion-filled game, Luka Doncic erupted for 45 points in his Dallas return game and helped the Lakers seal a playoff ticket.
[ALSO READ: Vengeful Luka Doncic marks winning Dallas return as Lakers seal playoff spot]
- San Antonio Spurs (33-47) def. Golden State Warriors (47-33), 114-111: Harrison Barnes haunted his former team, drilling the game-winning triple as time expired as the Spurs put a serious dent onto the Warriors’ playoff hopes.
- Orlando Magic (40-40) def. Boston Celtics (59-21), 96-76: Franz Wagner and the Magic pounced on the undermanned Celtics to seal the seventh spot come the play-in tournament.
The win also gave Orlando the Southeast division title for the second straight season.
- Chicago Bulls (37-43) def. Miami Heat (36-44), 119-111: Josh Giddey’s insane 28-point, 16-rebound, and 11-assist triple-double outing pushed the Bulls to lock in the no. 9 seed with next week's play-in tournament looming.
- Toronto Raptors (30-50) def. Charlotte Hornets (19-61), 126-96: Jonathan Mogbo finished with 17 points, career-high 11 assists, and 10 rebounds, becoming the first rookie this season to notch a triple-double in a 30-point Raptors romp of the Hornets.
THUNDER EARN POSTSEASON-LONG HOME COURT EDGE; NUGGETS, CLIPPERS PACE TIGHT WEST PLAYOFF RACE
- OKC Thunder (66-14) def. Phoenix Suns (35-45), 125-112: Jalen Williams picked up the slack with 33 points — his seventh 30-point game of the season — and the SGA-less Thunder clinched home court advantage throughout the playoffs with a NBA-best 66th victory.
- Dallas In, Phoenix Out: With the Suns’ loss, the Mavericks officially nabbed a spot in the West play-in tournament despite dropping a home game to the LA Lakers earlier.
With the Phoenix loss, the Mavericks have locked up a spot in the #SoFiPlayIn.
— NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2025
SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will take place April 15-18 on ESPN and TNT.
- Denver Nuggets (48-32) def. Sacramento Kings (39-41), 124-116: In their first game since firing head coach Mike Malone, Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets put an end to a four-game slide following a successful road visit in Sacramento.
[ALSO READ: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets open post-Mike Malone era with morale-boosting win over Kings]
- LA Clippers (47-32) def. Houston Rockets (52-27), 134-117: James Harden flashed his vintage form with a 35-point, 10-assist double-double to give the Clippers a sixth consecutive win.
- Ready for a Photo Finish: After tonight’s action, both the Nuggets and Clippers occupied the West no. 4-5 places with the Grizzlies returning inside the top six at 47-32. The Warriors slipped to seventh place after a heartbreaking loss to the Spurs with the Timberwolves (46-33) lurking behind.
NBA STANDINGS UPDATE ??
— NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2025
?? DEN moves to No. 4 in West
?? LAL secures top-6 seed
?? ORL clinches No. 7 in East
- Philadelphia 76ers (24-56) def. Washington Wizards (17-63), 122-103: Jeff Dowtin Jr. fired a career-high 30 points as the 76ers ended a 12-game losing skid in silencing the Wizards.
- Utah Jazz (16-63) def. Portland Trail Blazers (36-44), 119-111: Kyle Filipowski stood tall with a career-high 30 points and 18 rebounds as the Jazz halted a eight-game skid after scraping past the Trail Blazers in overtime.
