The San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns closed out their final tests on Monday with wins over the New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves before facing the NBA Cup quarterfinals in just 48 hours. The Suns knocked off the Timberwolves 105-108 despite 40 points from Anthony Edwards. Phoenix (14-10) will play its Cup quarterfinal against the Oklahoma City Thunder, reigning NBA champions and unbeatable this season, riding a 15-game winning streak and a 23-1 record.
In Minneapolis, the Suns -still without Devin Booker- dominated most of the game, although the Timberwolves (15-9) never let them escape on the scoreboard. Mark Williams scored 22 points, Collin Gillespie 19 and Dillon Brooks 18. For the Timberwolves, Edwards had 40 points and 9 rebounds, while Julius Randle had 21 points and 8 assists.
Spurs get Castle back
Dona y cambia vidas
Tu donativo brinda terapias, esperanza y un futuro sin límites a niños con discapacidad. Haz la diferencia hoy.
New Orleans was a roller coaster ride for the San Antonio Spurs (16-7), who defeated the New Orleans Pelicans (3-22) 132-135 with much more drama than expected.
The Spurs led by as many as 25 points in the second quarter, but saw the Pelicans chip away at that lead to take the lead at the end of the third period.
San Antonio went back ahead in the fourth quarter with an 8-point lead.
But again the Pelicans came back to take a one-point lead (132-131) with 30 seconds left.
Rookie Dylan Harper made a basket for the Spurs with 9 seconds left and rookie Derick Queen missed the shot that could have given New Orleans the lead back.
Queen, however, signed the first triple-double of his career with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, in addition to 4 blocks.
Trey Murphy scored another 32.
For the Spurs, Stephon Castle, back after nine games out with injury, scored 18 points.
Harrison Barnes scored 24 and Harper 22.
The Spurs head into their NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Lakers on the road without Victor Wembanyama, who is close to being medically cleared.
One more for Indiana
The Pacers outrebounded the Sacramento Kings 116-105, the sixth win of the NBA season for the Pacers (6-18) in a tough start without Tyrese Haliburton.
Andrew Nembhard signed a double-double (28 points and 12 assists) and was key to the victory for the Pacers, who saw the Kings ahead after squandering a 19-point lead.
Bennedict Mathurin contributed another 25 points and Pascal Siakam 23.
For the Kings (6-18), Russell Westbrook, the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles, added one more to his tally (206th) with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists.
The NBA Cup quarterfinal playoffs in the East will be played this Tuesday with Orlando Magic-Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors-New York Knicks.
On Wednesday, the Thunder-Suns and Lakers-Spurs duels will be played.
With information from EFE
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