The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Minnesota Timberwolves maintained their lead atop the Western Conference standings with a win over Oklahoma City.
Minnesota defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 106-103 behind an all-around performance from Rudy Gobert on Monday (Feb. 29) at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Gobert scored 17 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked four shots in the victory.
Minnesota, which has been labeled a perennial underdog, remained atop the Western Conference with a 13-4 record.
Oklahoma City slipped to 11-6 and into third place.
Minnesota was dealt a blow when starter Anthony Edwards (21 points) left the court with an injury in the third quarter.
After falling behind in the first half, Minnesota regained the lead thanks to Edwards, who scored 12 points in the third quarter alone.
However, after falling to the floor while attempting a dunk, Edwards injured his back and left the court in pain.
Minnesota then turned to bench player Troy Brown Jr. (17 points), who filled Edwards’ void admirably.
Brown, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers, hit a 3-pointer with 1:39 left in the game and a layup with 31.6 seconds left in regulation to make it 103-98.
After 29 games, the quarterfinals of the NBA’s in-season tournament, the NBA Cup, have been determined.
In Group C of the Western Conference, the Sacramento Kings rallied to beat the Golden State Warriors 124-123 on Malik Monk’s two-pointer with 7.1 seconds left in regulation.
Sacramento, which won its best-of-four series in Group C, advanced to the quarterfinals with the top seed.
In Group A of the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers (4 wins) and Phoenix Suns (3-1-1 – wild card), and in Group B, the New Orleans Pelicans have already clinched a quarterfinal spot.
The Eastern Conference’s Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Miami Heat 131-124 behind a 65-point effort from Yanis Adetokunbo (33 points) and Damian Lillard (32 points).
Milwaukee advanced to the quarterfinals with a first-place finish in Group B of the Eastern Conference after winning all four games.
In the same Group B, the New York Knicks (3-1), who defeated the Charlotte Hornets 115-91, joined the quarterfinals as a wild card.
In Group A, the Indiana Pacers (4 wins) have already clinched a quarterfinal berth, while in Group C, the Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls 124-97 to join the quarterfinals.
The three teams in Group C were tied at three wins and one loss, but Boston punched its ticket to the quarterfinals with a better point differential. 바카라사이트
The quarterfinals will be held on December 6 and 7.
[29-day NBA stats]
Boston 124-97 Chicago
Brooklyn 115-103 Toronto
Cleveland 128-105 Atlanta
Milwaukee 131-124 Miami
New York 115-91 Charlotte
Minnesota 106-103 Oklahoma City
Dallas 121-115 Houston
Sacramento 124-123 Golden State