Miami Heat defeated the Toronto Raptors 118:103, thereby securing the eighth position on the table ahead of the start of the play-in tournament.
The team from Florida approached the mentioned game mostly relaxed, as their place in the play-in was guaranteed from the eighth position, while Toronto had long been out of contention for the playoffs. It can’t be said that Darko Rajakovic’s team didn’t try to offer adequate resistance to their opponent, but Miami Heat was simply more motivated and better, resulting in the triumph in the end.
Jaime Jaquez and Thomas Bryant led their team to win with 18 points each, while on the other side, Gary Trent Jr. stood out with 18 points.
Miami Heat concluded the regular season with a record of 46 wins and 36 losses, while Toronto finished the season in 12th place with a record of 25-57. The first hurdle in the playoffs for the Florida-based club will be the Philadelphia 76ers on April 18th.
The Indiana Pacers defeated the Atlanta Hawks by 157-115, with Bogdan Bogdanovic standing out as one of the best players on the losing team.
There’s not much to say about the game itself, as the Pacers were in control from start to finish, with their lead growing minute by minute. This game wasn’t of significant importance to the Atlanta Hawks, as they would enter the play-in tournament as the 10th seed (36-46), while the Indiana Pacers rank as the sixth-best team in the East with a record of 47-35.
Seven players on the Pacers’ roster finished the game with double-digit scoring, with Myles Turner particularly shining with 31 points and 12 rebounds. The leading scorer for the Hawks was Dejounte Murray with 32 points, while Bogdan Bogdanovic added 18.
The Atlanta Hawks will face the Chicago Bulls in four days, while the Indiana Pacers will find out their opponent in the playoffs at a later date.
In other games, the Boston Celtics defeated the Washington Wizards at home by 132:122, while the Charlotte Hornets triumphed over the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road by 120:110.
The New York Knicks emerged victorious over the Chicago Bulls after overtime by 120:119, the Orlando Magic dominated the Milwaukee Bucks by 113:88, and the Philadelphia 76ers easily defeated the Brooklyn Nets by 107:86.