James Harden scored 29 points with a season-high 15 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers improved to 46-27 with a 122-97 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

Harden had four three-pointers in his 29 points, while he also dished off seven assists, with Joel Embiid adding 27 points with 10 rebounds as the 76ers flexed their muscle.

The 76ers set the tone with a 35-19 first quarter with Tobias Harris (12 points, two rebounds and two assists) hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer.

Harden's 15 rebounds are the most the 2018 MVP has had in a game since December 2020 with the Houston Rockets.

The win helps the 76ers close on the Miami Heat (47-27) and Milwaukee Bucks (46-27) at the top of the Eastern Conference in the jostle for top seed ahead of the playoffs.

Curry-less Warriors beaten again

The Golden State Warriors lost for the fourth time in their past five games since Stephen Curry's foot injury, going down 121-110 to the Atlanta Hawks despite Klay Thompson's 37 points including nine triples. Hawks guard Trae Young starred with 33 points and 15 assists.

The Minnesota Timberwolves clinched their 11th win from their past 14 games as they got the Dallas Mavericks 116-95 led by Karl-Anthony Towns' 20 points and nine rebounds. Luka Doncic had 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Mavs.

The Charlotte Hornets responded after their shock defeat to the New York Knicks with an impressive 107-101 win over the Utah Jazz, with Miles Bridges scoring 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Terry Rozier added 25 points.

Knicks' remarkable run downs Heat

The Miami Heat looked set to gain some breathing space on top of the Eastern Conference before the New York Knicks closed on a remarkable 38-13 run to claim a stunning 111-103 victory. Immanuel Quickley scored 20 of his 23 points in the last quarter.

The Saint Peter's dream run continued on Friday, after they defeated third-seeded Purdue 67-64 on Friday.

The Peacocks thrived off a home-court advantage at the Wells Fargo Center to become the first 15th seed to reach the Elite Eight, despite the late efforts of NBA lottery prospect Jaden Ivey.

Despite hitting on none of his opening five attempts from the perimeter, Ivey connected on an NBA-range triple with eight seconds left to bring Purdue within a point. Doug Edert calmly made his free-throws to ice the game, and put Saint Peter's on the brink of the Final Four.

They will face North Carolina who defeated UCLA 73-66, led by 30 points from Caleb Love.

Despite shooting 10-of-31 from the three-point line for the night, the six-time national champions overcame a three-point deficit to put up 45 points in the second half.

Elsewhere, Remy Martin scored a season-high 23 points as Kansas hung on for a 66-61 win over Providence, securing their passage to the Elite Eight.

The Jayhawks are the only first seed left in the tournament, after both Gonzaga and Arizona were defeated in the Sweet 16 on Thursday, and Baylor's title defence was ended in the second round.

Kansas will face the Miami Hurricanes, who progressed with their comfortable 70-56 win over Iowa State.

LeBron James is deserving of MVP consideration but the Los Angeles Lakers' 31-42 record will work against him according to head coach Frank Vogel.

The four-time MVP has had an outstanding season for the Lakers, averaging a career-high 30.0 points per game, which is also the best in the NBA this season ahead of Joel Embiid (29.8) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (29.7).

James has played 54 of the Lakers' 73 games, shooting at 52 per cent from the field while averaging 8.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks.

The 37-year-old, however, has single-handedly carried the Lakers, who are 10th in the Western Conference and scrapping to make the Play-In Tournament.

"He is as deserving for MVP consideration as anybody in the league," Vogel told reporters on Friday.

"I know how the voting goes - the team with the best record or top couple of records usually gets most of those considerations, so the win-loss record definitely would probably hurt him.

"But you can't tell me that anybody has played a better season than LeBron James has this year."

Embiid, whose Philadelphia 76ers are 45-27, and Nikola Jokic, whose Denver Nuggets are 43-31, are the current favourites for the MVP, with James believed to be behind the likes of Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Ja Morant, DeMar DeRozan and Devin Booker.

The 76ers center is averaging 29.8 points with 48 per cent shooting from the field along with 11.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists this season.

Reigning MVP Jokic is averaging 26.2 points at 57 per cent shooting with 13.5 rebounds and 7.9 assists and has had a league-high 18 triple-doubles.

James Wiseman will not see the court in his second season in the NBA after the Golden State Warriors made the decision to shut him down for the year. 

Wiseman's rookie season was cut short by a meniscal tear in his right knee, for which he underwent surgery last April. 

The center – the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft – had averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds across his first 39 professional games. 

But Wiseman has not added to those numbers in 2021-22, spending the entire season rehabilitating his knee. 

Now, with only nine games of the regular season remaining, the Warriors have confirmed the 20-year-old will not return – even with a playoff campaign to come. 

Warriors general manager Bob Myers explained the decision in a statement released by the team on Friday. 

"We've maintained throughout his entire rehabilitation process that we're going to be patient and look out for James' best interests in what we anticipate to be a long and successful career," Myers said. "As a 20-year-old, his entire career is ahead of him. 

"For us, as an organisation, our focus is on James' long-term health, and we're confident – and our doctors are confident – that this long-term approach will help James become the player we believe he will evolve into when he returns to the court." 

Coach Steve Kerr added his input when meeting with the media as the Warriors prepared for their game against the Atlanta Hawks. 

"Ultimately, it's very simple: we're just protecting James' future," Kerr said. "It makes the most sense to go this route. 

"I feel terrible for James – he's been through so much already in just two seasons – but his long-term health looks good, the knee looks sound. 

"It's just a decision that we feel makes the most sense for his own best interest and our best interest as well." 

Kerr explained it was a call made "in the name of being cautious" as Wiseman's knee is "structurally sound, but he has swelling". 

"It didn't make sense to play him over the next couple of weeks, that's where the knee is," the coach added. 

And Kerr is confident the Warriors will not be left short at center in their postseason run. 

"I still feel really good about our roster and the situation at center with Draymond [Green] and Loon [Kevon Looney] and Bjeli [Nemanda Bjelica], JK [Jonathan Kuminga] can play small-ball five, Otto [Porter Jr.] as well," he said. "I feel fine about our depth there." 

Kevin Durant says it is an "exciting time" for Brooklyn Nets fans as Kyrie Irving prepares to make a long-awaited appearance at Barclays Center on Sunday.

Irving has not been able to play at home this season after he opted against taking a coronavirus vaccine.

The seven-time NBA All-Star will be back in action at Barclays Center against the Charlotte Hornets this weekend, though, after New York City Mayor Eric Adams lifted the mandate for unvaccinated athletes and performers.

Durant welcomed that decision and says having Irving available for all games has given Brooklyn a major lift.

The forward said on Friday: "It's a long time coming. It's an exciting time for Brooklyn Nets fans and New York fans to see one of our own back on the floor at home.

"It means a lot to our team, happy to have him back, and look forward to finishing the season strong. I'm glad this is all behind us."

The Nets (38-35) are eighth in the Eastern Conference in a season that has not gone to plan.

But Durant has no interest in dwelling on the past as they look to build momentum with Irving set for a happy homecoming.

"There's no crying over spilled milk. It is what it is," Durant said. "But I'm not naive to the fact that the Mets and the Yankees, they have a lot of power in our city.

"I'm sure once they all helped and had conversations with whoever they needed to talk to, it was able to push it over the top.

"So, sports is a huge factor in a lot of these major cities, and I'm glad we can get things done for everybody to move forward. I know New York City fans are excited about it."

James Harden has backed his Philadelphia 76ers teammate Joel Embiid to be named as the NBA's MVP.

Embiid has been one of the top performers in the league this season, and his points per game average of 29.8 is second only to LeBron James (30.0), also averaging 11.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

Harden – who moved to the Sixers in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets in February – has been impressed with Embiid since arriving in Philadelphia.

When asked about the Cameroonian's MVP prospects, Harden told ESPN: "He deserves it, man. I've only been here for a few weeks, but I already see his mindset. He wants to win.

"Some guys just want numbers, but he has both. He has the mentality of winning, and he scores the ball at a high level. I think he's prepared himself, especially coming off last year, for this year to be one of his best years.

"Most of the games he's played this year, we've been fighting for the number one seed.

"And he's not only top two, top three in scoring, but he's impactful to our team winning."

Harden is averaging 22.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists across the season, and has won nine of his 12 appearances for the Sixers so far.

Embiid and Harden recorded 54 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists between them in Wednesday's 126-121 win at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Devin Booker demanded respect and the recognition he considers overdue as the Phoenix Suns clinched top spot in the Western Conference.

With a 60-14 record so far, the Suns will finish the regular season with the NBA's best win-loss record, and now they can start to think about chasing the franchise's first championship.

Defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks in last season's NBA Finals has only served to galvanise Monty Williams' Phoenix team this time around, and Booker made his appeal after scoring a season-high 49 points in a 140-130 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Booker was annoyed when at the pre-game arena team announcement on Thursday, his face was not shown on screen. Booker said that, instead, the screen showed Clippers guard Amir Coffey.

"That was disrespectful. I was laughing. I know that was purposefully done," he said.

"It's all fun and games, but we got the last laugh and every other laugh for the last few games against them. It's a good team they've got over there to put that up there because it got me going for sure."

The Arizona Republic newspaper said a Nuggets official had denied that error was deliberate.

Booker said the Suns would continue to talk themselves up, even if they consider there is insufficient attention on their achievements from elsewhere.

The Suns have secured the NBA's best record for the third time in franchise history, following on from 1992-93 and 2004-05.

"The vibes are there, man," he said. "Everybody's proud of each other.

"We're not the type of team to act like we haven't done nothing. We always talk about celebrating everything, and 60 wins is something I never even thought of."

Booker spoke of "day-to-day grind" and the hunger to keep improving and progressing.

"It's turned into something really nice," he said. "Now we have the one seed locked up, been winning basketball games for two years straight now.

"This team needs some flowers. Coach Monty should have been coach of the year last year. There's so much that I feel doesn't get talked about in this team.

"We've done a good job of not worrying about what people say about us, but it needs some recognition."

DeMar DeRozan sat out the Chicago Bulls' 126-109 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday due to a groin strain which they feared may turn into "something bigger".

The loss meant the Bulls have suffered their fifth loss from their past six games, sliding to a 42-31 record and hanging on to fifth spot in the Eastern Conference.

DeRozan had been feeling some tightness in his groin recently, with a modest return of 21 points, four rebounds and two assists in Tuesday's 126-98 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks before sitting out against the Pelicans.

"DeMar knows his body better than anybody else," Bulls head coach Billy Donovan told reporters before Thursday's game.

"I think he felt like, 'Okay, this could get into something else a little bit more significant if I don't take care of this.'

"We just don't want it to turn into something bigger."

Donovan said the Bulls would know more on DeRozan's status on Friday ahead of their next game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.

Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his second game in the Milwaukee Bucks' past three as they won 114-102 over the Washington Wizards but head coach Mike Budenholzer insists there is nothing to worry about.

The reigning NBA Finals MVP missed the game with a sore right knee, leaving Jrue Holiday to star with 24 points and 10 assists as the Bucks improved to 46-27.

Antetokounmpo also missed Saturday's 138-119 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves with knee soreness.

"I don't think it's anything long-term or anything significant, but we'll see whether he travels tomorrow and make decisions on the game Saturday as we kind of see how he feels and learn more," Mike Budenholzer told reporters before Thursday's game.

Khris Middleton has missed Milwaukee's past two games with a sore left wrist but Budenholzer was bullish he would be available to face the in-form Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

"I fully expect him to travel with us to Memphis," Budenholzer said. "I think I'd go as far as to say we're hopeful he'll play against Memphis.

"We'll see how he does in the next day or two, but as of now, I'd expect him to be on the flight and we're hopeful that he'll play."

Memphis Grizzlies ascending superstar Ja Morant will be out for at least two more weeks as he recovers from knee soreness, according to head coach Taylor Jenkins.

Morant has missed the Grizzlies' past three games with the complaint, with the injury perhaps being more serious than first thought as he is scheduled to miss perhaps the entirety of the remaining regular season.

While the Grizzlies are notorious for playing their cards close to their chest when it comes to reporting player injuries, there is likely no hurry to rush Morant back as the team has compiled a staggering 16-2 record in his absences this season.

Speaking before Memphis' 133-103 win against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night, Jenkins said he was confident of Morant making a full recovery, even if the timeline is unclear.

"We expect him to make a full recovery before the playoffs, and we're excited about that with two and a half weeks left in the season," he told reporters.

"We'll offload him early, then he'll start reloading pretty soon here with that two weeks in mind to reevaluate."

Morant is the odds-on favourite to take home the NBA's Most Improved Player award, and will likely also receive some votes MVP further down the ballot.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski's fairytale ending is alive and well after Duke came from behind to knock Texas Tech out of March Madness 78-73 and move on to the Elite Eight.

Krzyzewski – affectionately known as 'Coach K' – is in the last season of his 42-year run as Duke's head coach, and is searching for his sixth national championship.

It was far from easy for the Blue Devils against a Red Raider side in their third Sweet 16 from the past four tournaments, trailing 33-29 at half-time.

In the final 15 minutes, neither team was able to build a lead of more than five points as it seesawed back-and-forth before two clutch Jeremy Roach jump shots gave Duke a 73-68 buffer with 1:33 remaining.

Duke's top NBA Draft prospect Paolo Banchero showed exactly why he is going to make plenty of money at the next level, scoring a team-high 21 points on seven-of-12 shooting to go with four assists and three steals as the best player on the court.

Devin Booker put on a show with 49 points as Chris Paul returned from a broken wrist as the Phoenix Suns clinched top spot in the Western Conference with a 140-130 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Booker's 49 points was a season-high, while 36-year-old Paul returned for the first time since February 20 with 17 points, including 15 in the first half, and 13 assists as the Suns secured their sixth straight win.

Three-time All-Star Booker shot 16-of-25 from the field and also had 10 assists, with Mikal Bridges contributing 22 points from eight-of-nine shooting.

The win means the Suns have secured the NBA's best record for the third time in franchise history, following on from 1992-93 and 2004-05.

Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic had 28 points with six rebounds and six assists for the Nuggets, who are 43-31 and holding on to sixth spot in the Western Conference.

Grizzlies and Bucks win without stars

The Memphis Grizzlies won again without Ja Morant with a 133-103 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Desmond Bane scored 30 points with five assists and five rebounds as the Grizzlies improved to 16-2 without Morant.

The Milwaukee Bucks triumphed without Khris Middleton (wrist) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) with Jrue Holiday starring with 24 points and 10 assists in a 114-102 win over the Washington Wizards.

Pascal Siakam equalled his season-high 35 points as the Toronto Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-104 in a crucial game in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

DeRozan out as Bulls slide continues

The Chicago Bulls slipped to their fifth defeat from their past six games, going down 126-109 to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Bulls are fifth in the east with a 42-31 record, just ahead of the Cavs and Raptors (both 41-32).

The Bulls, who were without DeMar DeRozan due to a left groin issue, were dominated 40-24 by the Pels in the fourth quarter, led by Devonte' Graham (30 points including five three-pointers) and Jonas Valanciunas (16 points and 19 rebounds).

Zach LaVine was Chicago's best with 39 points in DeRozan's absence, going 12-of-23 from the field, while Coby White added 23 points off the bench including five triples.

Paul George has given the Los Angeles Clippers a lift with his return to practice on Thursday for the first time since December.

The Clippers have seen their season wrecked by injuries but have still managed to hover around .500, entering Thursday's games eighth in the West with a 36-38 record.

They are set to finish the regular season in that position, securing a place in the play-in tournament – an impressive achievement given the absence of key players.

Kawhi Leonard is yet to play in 2021-22 due to the partial tear of the ACL in his right knee that curtailed his playoff campaign last year.

George carried the Clippers in his stead, averaging 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.0 steals until he tore a ligament in his right elbow late last year.

A trade for Norm Powell sought to breathe new life into the Clippers' season, yet he lasted just three games – scoring 21.0 points per game – before fracturing a bone in his left foot.

The team's competitive results have given the trio time to recover, though, and now George is back in the mix, cleared for practice even if he remains out on gameday.

"He is doing good," coach Ty Lue said on Thursday. "He hasn't felt any pain, so that is a positive thing.

"He is just working on his conditioning and just making sure he can continue to go through the minimal contact without having any issue. So as of right now, it hasn't been a problem."

The Phoenix Suns' All-Star guard Chris Paul is "probable" to return to action on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets.

The 36-year-old suffered an avulsion fracture in his right thumb in a 124-121 win over former team the Houston Rockets on February 16, though he still played two minutes for Team LeBron in the All-Star Game four days later.

Paul has missed the past 15 games for the Suns, his absence coinciding with a slight wobble from the 59-14 league leaders as they lost four of their next nine games.

However, Phoenix have won six in a row since then, and the return of Paul will be a welcome boost with the playoffs on the horizon.

Paul had been a key part of the season up to his injury, averaging 14.9 points and a league-leading 10.7 assists.

Even with his injury, only Atlanta's Trae Young (634) has more total assists this season than Paul's 619, having played nine games more.

Kyrie Irving has been cleared to play home games for the Brooklyn Nets after changes to New York's vaccine mandate were officially announced on Thursday.

It means Irving will be eligible to take to the court when the Nets host the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center on Sunday.

New York City mayor Eric Adams recently removed restrictions requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter establishments including bars, restaurants and sports arenas, but the mandate for private sector employees remained in place.

As a result, Irving – who is unvaccinated – was only able to attend home games as a spectator.

However, at a media conference at Citi Field on Thursday, Adams confirmed the mandate for athletes and performers had been lifted.

"This is about putting New York athletes on a level playing field," he said. "We were treating our performers differently because they live and play in New York City."

Adams did reiterate his previous stance that athletes, including Irving, should reconsider their stance on vaccination.

"Kyrie, you should get vaccinated," he said. "This does not change my message that everyone should get vaccinated."

Irving, who has played just 20 games this season, scored 43 points in Brooklyn's 132-120 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.