Nikola Jokic's Denver Nuggets team-mates have no doubt the reigning MVP is the best player in the NBA again this season.
The Nuggets have been hampered by injuries to Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. this season but remain a competitive sixth in the West thanks to Jokic's outstanding displays.
The center's latest heroics guided Denver to a 138-130 overtime win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
Jokic finished with 46 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, four blocks and three steals – the first example of a player achieving those statistics in the NBA since blocks and steals were first tracked in 1973-74.
This sensational triple-double included 23 fourth-quarter points – matching Jokic's career high – and seven more in overtime.
Team-mate Aaron Gordon said: "[He is] phenomenal, different, he's just different. That's just not something that you see often.
"He took over, 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime; that's just sick. That was just an amazing game. He's an amazing ballplayer.
"This dude is incredible. I don't say that about a lot of people. I only say that about a handful of people. This dude is incredible.
"He's the MVP. I believe that. He's coming out night in and night out putting up ridiculous numbers, and we're winning. I don't know everybody that votes on it, but this guy has got to be at the top of the list."
Jokic ranks 11th for points per game (25.8), second for rebounds (13.8) and seventh for assists (8.0) this season, with his combined 47.6 just clear of MVP rival Giannis Antetokounmpo (46.9) in first place.
For Nuggets coach Michael Malone then, it was a "luxury" to be able to turn to such a player late in the game against the Pelicans.
"What a luxury to have the MVP in an overtime game knowing you can just play through him," Malone said.
"They double-teamed him, Monte Morris makes a big three. It's just such a confidence that you have because you know in a close game he's just going to make the play again and again.
"For him to step up the way he did just speaks to his greatness."
Kalon Barnes came within a hundredth of a second of John Ross' NFL Scouting Combine record in his stunning 40-yard dash.
The Baylor cornerback ran a 4.23 on Sunday, the second-fastest time since media were allowed into the event in 2003.
Barnes becomes the fastest defensive back in Combine history in the fastest defensive back class.
There were a record 13 DBs who ran sub-4.40 dashes, including Texas-San Antonio cornerback Tariq Woolen, who was close behind Barnes with his 4.26.
Remarkably, Baylor had three players to run sub-4.40, with Barnes joined by wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (4.28) and safety JT Woods (4.36).
They became the first school since 2003 to have three such players at a single Combine, while no other school have had two sub-4.30 players across that entire period – as Baylor did in 2022 alone in Barnes and Thornton.
"It feels amazing to be out here competing with a bunch of guys on the same mission as me," Barnes said in a short social media message. "It's a real blessing to be here."
Jayson Tatum was living in dreamland after his 54-point haul in the Boston Celtics' 126-120 victory over a Brooklyn Nets team boasting Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on Sunday.
Durant and Irving teamed up for only the fourth time this season, but it was Tatum who took centre stage, shooting 16-of-30 from the field and eight-of-15 from beyond the arc.
His incredible display included 34 second-half points, with 18 coming during the final quarter as the Celtics overturned a one-point deficit.
While Durant put up 37 points in only his second game back from an MCL sprain, becoming the 23rd player to reach 25,000 career NBA points, Irving managed just 19 points with four rebounds and six rebounds.
And Tatum was thrilled to get the better of two stars of the game as the Celtics, for whom Jaylen Brown scored 21 points, improved to 39-27.
"As a competitor, night in, night out, but especially games like this, those matchups when you're [against] one of the better teams in the league with two of the best guys, just as a competitor, these are the kinds of moments that as a kid you dreamed about and looked forward to," he said.
"When those opportunities come, you try to make the most of it.
"Obviously, somebody like myself or [Brown] can have nights like this. And it's contagious when guys are hitting shots, spreading the wealth and making the extra pass, driving and kicking.
"Just getting those open looks and seeing them go in, it just opens everything up for us. We know how tough we can be on defense. When we kind of match that energy on offense, we'll really be special."
Team-mate Marcus Smart cited slight tweaks in Tatum's approach that had led to an upturn in his performances.
He said: "He stopped trying to force it, and making the right read, making the game easy for himself.
"Saving that energy and not trying to beat every double-team that comes his way and that's allowing him to do what he does at the end of games. He has the legs late in those fourth quarters to take over the games and that's what it's all about.
"When you are a great player, that's what it's about, having those legs in crunch time to be able to do that. The way you do that is getting everyone else involved, picking your spots wisely.
"He's doing a great job of that, him and Jaylen. They both are and that's the reason why we are doing what we are doing. That's good players that get us going on the offensive end, making sure we get great shots either for themselves or for their team-mates."
Jayson Tatum produced a dominant display with 54 points as the Boston Celtics won 126-120 over the Brooklyn Nets who had the rare partnership of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on Sunday.
Durant and Irving teamed up for only the fourth time this season but their presence would not deny Tatum's brilliance, shooting 16-of-30 from the field and eight-of-15 from beyond the arc.
Tatum, who scored 34 points in the second half, led the Celtics' late charge as they won after trailing by one point at the final change.
Durant scored 37 points in his second game back from an MCL sprain which kept him out since mid-January, becoming the 23rd player to reach 25,000 career NBA points.
Irving only managed 19 points with four rebounds and six rebounds for the Nets who slip to 32-33, while the Celtics have won 21 of their past 27 games to improve to 39-27.
Middleton scores season-high
Khris Middleton scored a season-high 44 points as Giannis Antetokounmpo took a back seat in the Milwaukee Bucks' 132-122 win over the Phoenix Suns, who were missing both Chris Paul (thumb) and Devin Booker (protocols). The Bucks, who have won four straight, stormed home with a 12-1 run over the last three minutes as Antetokounmpo got into foul trouble.
The Houston Rockets snapped their 12-game losing run with a shock 123-112 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, for whom Ja Morant scored 22 points with six assists. The Utah Jazz closed on Memphis in the west with a 116-103 win at the Oklahoma City Thunder as Bojan Bogdanovic hit a franchise-record 11 three-pointers for his 35 points.
Nikola Jokic scored 46 points, including 30 in the fourth quarter, as the Denver Nuggets won 138-130 over the New Orleans Pelicans in over-time. Jokic had 46 points plus 12 rebounds and 11 assists as the Nugs rallied after squandering a 21-point lead.
Allen injury sours Cavs win
The Cleveland Cavaliers won 104-96 over the Toronto Raptors but lost Jarrett Allen indefinitely to a suspected fractured finger. Rookie Evan Mobley had 20 points with 17 rebounds for the Cavs who are 37-27.
Kyrie Irving believes New York City mayor Eric Adams is "on my side" as the Brooklyn Nets' All-Star hopes he rolls back the city's vaccination mandate to permit him to play home games.
Irving contributed 19 points as the Nets went down 126-120 on the road to the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
The 29-year-old has not been permitted to play any home games at Barclays Center this season due to New York City's vaccination mandate, although a recent change of mayorship offered Irving hope.
Adams said last week that allowing the point guard to play home games "would send the wrong message" to the people of New York, despite wanting to see Irving win an NBA championship, thus ruling out an exemption.
"Shoutout Eric Adams, man," Irving told reporters after the loss to the Celtics on Sunday, speaking publicly for the first time since Adams' comments.
"It's not an easy job to be the mayor of New York City. And with COVID looming, the vaccination mandates, everything going on in our world, with this war in the Ukraine, and everybody feeling it across America, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now trying to delegate whether or not one basketball player can come and play at home. I appreciate his comments and his stance. He knows where I stand.
"And I know one day we'll be able to break bread together and he'll be able to come to the games and hopefully we'll move past this time like it never happened in our sense.
"But, it's just the reality that it's been difficult on a lot of us in New York City and across the world. So, I know he's feeling it and I'm just grateful that he's on my side, as well as the [NBA] commissioner."
Kevin Durant became just the 23rd player in all-time NBA history to reach 25,000 career points during the Brooklyn Nets' 126-120 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
Durant, who also played for the Seattle SuperSonics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors during his NBA career, scored a team-high 37 points for the Nets on Sunday.
The 2014 NBA MVP admitted the milestone was "pretty cool" but pointed out that it should be more, referring to injuries during his career.
"It's pretty cool," Durant told reporters after Sunday's loss. "I should be at 30 [thousand] right now, to be honest.
"But it's cool, it's cool to reach that milestone and be amongst the greats and I just got to keep pushing and keep going and see where I end up."
Durant is the seventh fastest player to achieve the feat, reaching 25,000 points in his 922nd game, behind Wilt Chamberlain (691), Michael Jordan (782), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (889), LeBron James (915), Oscar Robertson (917) and Jerry West (920).
Only James and Carmelo Anthony are active players who have also scored 25,000 NBA points.
Nets teammate Kyrie Irving added: "I told him in the locker room, 25,000 points, you're a savant. "You are an artist. You have clipped history. And will forever be remembered as a legend in our game.
"He's been doing it since he was 19, and there's a level of admiration I have for my best friend right there, and he just does it in ways that makes it look easy. And even when he takes six weeks off, it looks like he hasn't missed any time. And that level of work ethic that he puts in, it shows why he's as great as he is.
"For me, it motivates me to continue to get my game up and hopefully when I'm done with my career I could be sitting next to him and having 25,000 as well and look back and we just crack jokes on a few championships that we won together. So that's the goal at hand."
Leylah Fernandez saved five championship points before converting her first to successfully defend her title at the Monterrey Open over Camila Osorio on Sunday.
Last year's US Open runner-up Fernandez triumphed in two hours and 52 minutes over the Colombian fourth seed winning 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3).
The Canadian second seed held her nerve after a 15-minute delay due to a light failure inside the stadium upon Osorio's fifth championship point. Fernandez won the next three points upon the resumption to force a tiebreak which she won.
The triumph is 19-year-old Fernandez's second WTA title, both in Monterrey, having lost the Mexican Open final in 2020 as well as at Flushing Meadows to Emma Raducanu last year.
Osorio, 20, was chasing her second WTA title but will be left to rue missed opportunities, converting only four of her 15 break points for the match.
The reigning champion had led 4-1 in the opening set before Osorio fought back to win the set in a tie-break.
Fernandez again led 4-1 in the second set before Osorio responded with a break, but the Canadian steadied to level the match.
Osorio broke Fernandez in the fourth game of the final set and also led 4-1 before the popular 19-year-old leveled at 4-4.
The Colombian failed to convert her first championship point on Fernandez's serve at 40-30 when up 5-4, as well as four more opportunities on the Canadian's serve at 6-5. Fernandez was ruthless in the tie-break, swooping on her first championship point.
Scottie Scheffler backed up last month's Phoenix Open triumph by taking out the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one stroke after a final round of 72 at Bay Hill on Sunday.
Scheffler carded an even-par round with three birdies and three bogeys to finish five under and one shot ahead of Viktor Hovland, Billy Horschel and Tyrrell Hatton – who stormed 10 places up the leaderboard with a final-day 69 to earn a tie of second.
The 25-year-old Scheffler made his move on the third day, with a five-under 68 launching him into contention. American Scheffler will now move up to fifth on the official world rankings.
Joint overnight leaders Horschel and Talor Gooch lost their grip on top spot, with the former making three bogeys and a double bogey on his final-day front nine before finishing with a three-over 75.
Gooch ended up two further strokes back with a five-over 77 after four bogeys and two double bogeys on his front nine.
Norwegian world number four Hovland loomed as the likely player to capitalise on their misfortune, as he assumed the lead.
But five bogeys in Hovland's closing 11 holes left the door open for Scheffler, who held his nerve, notably making an excellent long putt to save par on the 15th hole.
"It feels great, especially to win on such a difficult golf course and the way it finished," Scheffler told Sky Sports.
"I didn't play my best stuff, I just kept grinding and made some key putts down the stretch, and it was really just a fight all day."
First-round leader Rory McIlroy never threatened on Sunday, with a four-over-76 meaning he finished back at one over after 72 holes.
World number one Jon Rahm was one stroke behind the Northern Irishman after a final-round 74.
An elated Enea Bastianini said Gresini "have all cried" after his emotional maiden MotoGP victory at the season-opening race in Qatar.
The 24-year-old took the top step on the podium for the first time in the premier class after passing Pol Espargaro with four laps to go under the lights at the Lusail International Circuit.
Espargaro led for the majority of the race after storming from sixth to first at the start, but Bastianini capitalised on the Repsol Honda rider's fading tyres to pass him on the inside and go on to take the chequered flag.
It was Gresini's first MotoGP triumph since 2006 and came just over a year after the death of their team principal Fausto Gresini.
Nadia Padovani, Gresini's wife who is now the team principal and owner, was in tears after 2021 rookie Bastianini crossed the finishing line, and she was not the only one.
Bastianini said: "It is such an emotional day for all of the team. We have all cried at the end of the race.
"We did a very good job from most of the testing and this weekend. The set-up of the bike was incredible, we worked very well to prepare for the race and this morning in the warm-up when I saw we had really good pace I thought I can have a good race.
"My decision was to stay with the medium of the rear (tyre). That was the best decision for me, I pushed in my style in the last seven to eight laps and I won the race."
Brad Binder took second and Espargaro was third after going wide when he was passed by Bastianini and subsequently losing another place, with Marc Marquez fifth behind Aleix Espargaro.
Bastianini knows he has a whole host of top-class riders to do battle with as he attempts to build on his first win.
The Italian added: "Pol Espargaro was so fast, he saved his tyres very well. This is a very good step for me, and now it's going to be very competitive. Binder also had a really good race, and it was not easy for me to win but I did it.
"In MotoGP it's not easy because many riders are so fast, and sometimes it's not possible to be on the front, but I am always going to do my best."
Reigning champion Fabio Quartararo could only finish ninth.
China's Ashun Wu became the first player from Asia to win the Kenya Open, with a superb six-under-par 65 clinching a four-shot victory.
The 36-year-old collected his fourth DP World Tour title, and his first since tasting victory at the KLM Open in the Netherlands in September 2018, after finishing 16 under for the week.
Scotland's Ewen Ferguson had entered the final day of the tournament with a four-shot lead, but he stumbled to a final round of 76, leaving him tied for eighth place overall.
Thriston Lawrence of South Africa, Germany's Hurly Long, and Canadian Aaron Cockerill finished as joint runners-up in Nairobi, as Wu, his country's most successful golfer on the circuit previously known as the European Tour, earned a memorable triumph.
Zhang Shuai secured her third career title as she battled past Dayana Yastremska in a Lyon Open final thriller on Sunday.
Ukrainian Yastremska fled her hometown of Odessa last month amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and embarked on an emotional run throughout this tournament.
Yastremska credited the support she received from across the globe as a motivating factor for her success after reaching the final, where she could not get the better of eighth seed Zhang.
China's Zhang had not lost a set all week, though she did falter as world number 128 Yastremska claimed the first set before succumbing 3-6 6-3 6-4.
Yastremska, 21, was twice two games ahead in the deciding set, at 2-0 and 4-2 up, but Zhang reeled off four straight games to take the trophy.
Zhang was keen to credit her opponent after the match, saying: "Big congrats to Dayana and her team for working so hard.
"I know it's a tough time for you, but you are a fighter, you play unbelievable tennis. You are the best. For sure, you will win a lot of tournaments. Keep going."
Yastremska announced she would donate her prize money to a charity to provide aid back home, saying: "If Ukrainian people are watching me, you guys are so strong, you have an amazing spirit.
"I try to fight for Ukraine and I want to say thanks to every single person for standing by us and showing everyone we have a really strong spirit."
Enea Bastianini secured a brilliant maiden MotoGP victory after passing Pol Espargaro late in an eventful season-opening race under the lights in Qatar.
Espargaro had led for the majority of the race after storming from sixth to first in a blistering start, with Jorge Martin dropping from pole to eighth early on.
It was Gresini's Bastianini, a rookie at this level last year, who made a dream beginning to the season, though, overtaking Espargaro with four laps to go and taking the chequered flag ahead of Brad Binder for his team's first win in the premier class since 2006.
Bastianini's win at the Lusail International Circuit sparked emotional scenes, as Gresini's then team principal Fausto Gresini died just over a year ago.
Espargaro was the third man on the podium, while Marc Marquez was fifth and Martin crashed out.
Repsol Honda rider Espargaro got off to a flyer as Martin slipped back through the field, with Bastianini dropping a couple of places from second on the grid.
Espargaro's team-mate Marquez moved up a spot from third to second until the six-time champion was passed by Binder and Bastianini with 16 laps to go.
Martin's miserable race was summed up when he crashed with Francesco Bagnaia and slid into the gravel along with the Italian.
Bastianini had the pace to close in on the long-time leader and duly made his move on the inside, with Espargaro going wide in a costly lapse that allowed Binder to nip in for second place.
Aleix Espargaro took fourth place, while reigning champion Fabio Quartararo crossed the line in ninth.
TOP 10
1. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing)
2. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) +0.346
3. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) +1.351
4. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) +2.242
5. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) +4.099
6. Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) +4.843
7. Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) +8.881
8. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) +10.536
9. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) +10.543
10. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda IDEMITSU) ++14.967
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Riders
1. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing) 25
2. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) 20
3. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) 16
4. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) 13
5. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) 11
Teams
1. Repsol Honda 27
2. Gresini Racing 25
3. Red Bull KTM 20
4. Suzuki Ecstar 19
5. Aprilia 17
Mike Krzyzewski is still struggling to come to terms with the end of his coaching career at Duke after overseeing his final home game on Saturday.
After 42 years, 'Coach K' is leaving the Blue Devils at the end of this season.
A host of celebrities and 96 former players were in attendance for his farewell against rivals North Carolina, although a 94-81 defeat put a dampener on the occasion – at least in Krzyzewski's eyes.
"I'm sorry about this afternoon," he told the crowd in a post-game ceremony, although that apology was drowned out by cheers.
"Today was unacceptable, but the season has been very acceptable. And the season isn't over, all right?"
Indeed, Krzyzewski has already this year delivered Duke their 13th ACC regular season title of his tenure, the first since 2010 and first outright since 2006.
And attention now turns towards the ACC tournament before a tilt at Krzyzewski's sixth national title with the school.
"We're 0-0," the coach said. "We'll be that twice: now and next Sunday, we'll be that again.
"Hopefully, the lessons we learned from 31 games, including especially this last one, will help us in both situations."
However, this game – one of the biggest in basketball – was instead all about a celebration of Krzyzewski.
Reflecting on his long and successful stay at Duke, he said: "We have loved being a part of the Duke family.
"It's hard for me to believe this is over. I'm just going to say the regular season is over."
Stephen Curry acknowledges things are "rough right now" for the Golden State Warriors, with time running out to fix their form before the playoffs as rival superstars continue to capitalise.
LeBron James put up 56 points as the Los Angeles Lakers handed the Warriors their fourth straight loss and eighth in 10 games.
The Warriors had won nine in a row prior to that run but have now slipped to 43-21 and third place in the West.
Saturday's 124-116 defeat followed a familiar, frustrating theme, according to Curry, whose 30 points paled next to James' efforts.
His 56 were the most by any opposition player against the Warriors this season, meaning three of the top four such performances have come in their past three games.
Luka Doncic had 41 for the Dallas Mavericks against the Warriors, while Karl-Anthony Towns scored 39 for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"Obviously LeBron played amazing, he hit some tough shots and we've got to acknowledge that, for sure, but we still had some self-inflicted wounds," Curry said.
"That's tough when you're trying to get out of a hole. We're bringing the right energy, it's just IQ, effort plays, simple breakdowns and obviously boxing out.
"It's rough right now. Keeping it plain and simple: it's rough.
"We've got to figure out how to claw our way out, because as you've seen the last four games, it's self-inflicted wounds but also guys are playing with confidence on the other end and coming at us, having not career nights but performances that are unlike the previous five games or whatever.
"You're coming in and you're giving teams confidence as well. We've got to figure that out."
Two-time MVP Curry accepted: "Right now, if the playoffs started tomorrow, we'd be in some trouble."
He added: "We know we've shown who we are, in terms of how we started the season. I feel like we can get back to that – that's the confidence that has to remain – but we cannot give in to this losing spirit of just finding different ways to lose basketball games.
"The clock will tick out on you and you'll go into the summer thinking what could have been, should have been, have regrets. I don't want to let us get into that vibe.
"What are there, 18 games left? We have to figure out how to turn things around pretty quick."
"There's no words" for LeBron James' brilliance after his 56-point haul in the Los Angeles Lakers' 124-116 win over the Golden State Warriors, according to head coach Frank Vogel.
James almost single-handedly hauled the Lakers over the line, rallying from a half-time deficit with a 35-22 fourth quarter to end their four-game losing run.
The four-time NBA MVP's 56 points was his most as a Laker and tied for the third most in a single game in his storied 19-year career.
James labelled it a "desperation" win after the game, shooting 19-of-31 from the field along with six-of-11 from beyond the arc, with 10 rebounds and three assists.
“There’s no words for it," Vogel told reporters after the game. "An incredible performance by the best to ever do it in my opinion."
James' 56-point haul meant he became the fourth player aged 37 or older to score 50 or more points in a single game, alongside Michael Jordan (2001), Kobe Bryant (2016) and Jamal Crawford (2019).
"It's just remarkable, his will," Vogel added. "What he's done to transition his game to this stage of his career, in terms of his shooting, it's an example to every player to put the work into his craft.
"it's just remarkable to be doing it at this stage in his career."
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr added: “He was brilliant tonight. LeBron was amazing."
The win improves the Lakers' record to 28-35, sitting ninth in the Western Conference ahead of the final stretch of games before the playoffs.
"It feels like earlier in the season when we first lost Anthony [Davis], we lost five in a row, we were in an adjustment phase and trying to figure it out," Vogel said. "Hopefully this is the win that changes that momentum."
Colby Covington dominated former friend Jorge Masvidal with a unanimous decision victory in UFC 272's welterweight main event before calling out Dustin Poirier on Sunday.
Covington totally outpointed Masvidal to clinch a 49-46, 50-44, 50-45 over his former teammate in a grudge match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The 34-year-old American controlled the majority of the fight, although Masvidal dropped him in the fourth round with a right hand.
The polarizing Covington took out his mouthguard immediately after the final bell, sticking his tongue out in Masvidal's direction, before blowing him kisses.
Covington went on to call out former UFC lightweight champion and his ex-training partner Poirier for his next bout, with the win improving his record to 17-3.
"Louisiana swamp trash," Covington labelled Poirier, before adding: "I'll see you soon. You're next!"
The fight was billed as a grudge match rather than anything significant for titles or rankings with a lot of animosity between Covington and Masvidal given their history.
Covington spent long periods of the fight on Masvidal's back, with his superiority grappling, attempting to secure a rear-naked choke in the first round.
The American landed elbows in the third round as 37-year-old Masvidal's pace started to slow in the latter rounds, with his best moment being his fourth round hit which dropped Covington.
"I should have had more moments like that, but I was off today," Masvidal said. "I didn't have it."
Meanwhile, former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos won a bloody stand-up battle against Renato Moicano by unanimous decision.
Bryce Mitchell was dominant in his featherweight bout with Edson Barboza, claiming victory by unanimous decision.
Kevin Holland and Sergey Spivak both won by TKO in the earlier welterweight and heavyweight bouts against Alex Oliveira and Greg Hardy respectively.
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rovers says he pays no attention to the Eastern Conference standings after Saturday's loss left them three games behind the Miami Heat.
Rivers opted not to play 2018 MVP James Harden in the second game of their back-to-back as they went down 99-82 to the Eastern Conference-leading Heat.
Joel Embiid scored 22 points with 15 rebounds for the 76ers but was often double-teamed in Harden's absence, while Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro both contributed 21 points for the Heat.
The decision to leave out Harden was curious given the relative significance of the fixture with seedings in mind, with the Heat top of the east with a 43-22 record ahead of the second-placed 76ers at 39-24.
“I really don’t look at the standings,” Rivers said at the post-game news conference. “What do they matter? You have to win.
"I swear to God, after 82 [games], someone’s going to tap me and say ‘This is who you’re playing.’ ... You can only control what you can control. The other stuff is for everyone else to talk about."
The 76ers head coach clarified that Harden was left out due to managing a left hamstring complaint which was "nothing".
“It’s nothing, really,” Rivers said pre-game. “He’s just played a lot of games, he’s been out, and that’s about it really. There’s nothing to read into it.”
LeBron James inspired the Los Angeles Lakers to end their four-game losing run with 56 points in a 124-116 win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
James' 56-point haul was his most as a Laker and also meant he became the fourth player aged 37 or older to score 50 or more points in a game, alongside Michael Jordan (2001), Kobe Bryant (2016) and Jamal Crawford (2019).
The four-time NBA MVP made 19-of-31 from the field along with six-of-11 from beyond the arc, while he dished off three assists, including a key late pass for Carmelo Anthony's three-pointer. James also had 10 rebounds.
Russell Westbrook added 20 points for the Lakers, while Stephen Curry scored 30 points including four three-pointers for Golden State.
The result snaps the Lakers' skid and improves their record to 28-13, but it leaves the Warriors having lost four in a row, while they have only won twice in their past 10.
Harden absent as Heat move clear
Eastern Conference leaders Miami Heat made a statement with a 99-82 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers who were missing James Harden. The 76ers, playing on back-to-back nights, managed Harden's left hamstring complaint. Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler scored 21 points each as the Heat moved three games clear of the east's second-placed 76ers. Joel Embiid had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the 76ers.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 36 points with 15 rebounds and five assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves won 135-121 over the Portland Trail Blazers. Emerging star Anfernee Simons had 38 points for the Blazers.
Ja Morant scored 25 points with seven assists as the Memphis Grizzlies continued their strong run with a 124-96 win over the Orlando Magic. Desmond Bane added 24 points with 10-of-15 shooting.
Kings blew big lead against Mavs
The Sacramento Kings blew a 19-point lead as they lost 114-113 to the Dallas Mavericks who were without All-Star Luka Doncic with a toe strain. Dorian Finney-Smith hit a three-pointer with 3.3 seconds left, while Spencer Dinwiddie scored a season-high 36 points. De'Aaron Fox had an equal career-high 44 points for the Kings.
Leylah Fernandez's title defence at the Monterrey Open remains on track after progressing through to the final where she will face Camila Osorio.
The Canadian second seed, who reached last year's US Open final, comfortably accounted for Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1 6-4 on Saturday.
Fernandez triumphed in one hour and 12 minutes, even as Haddad Maia took a medical timeout in the second set.
The 2021 US Open runner-up was exceptional on first serve, making 77.6 per cent, while she was not broken once throughout the match, taking three of her four break points.
Colombian fifth seed Osorio defeated sixth seed Nuria Parrizas Diaz 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 29 minutes.
Osorio's triumph means she qualifier for her third WTA Tour singles final, having claimed her only title in Bogota last year.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
