(The Sports Xchange) – Stephen Curry scored 38 points and Klay Thompson added 28 to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 107-84 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, their eighth win in a row.
Golden State (59-13) avenged a 105-98 loss to the Grizzlies (50-23) in December. Memphis were the only team this season the Warriors had not defeated.
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Hawks 99, Heat 86
DeMarre Carroll scored 19 of his 24 points in the first half to pace the Atlanta Hawks to a 99-86 win over the Miami Heat.
The victory, along with Cleveland’s loss to Brooklyn, enabled Atlanta (55-17) to clinch first place in the Eastern Conference for the first time since the 1993-94 campaign.
Miami (33-39) hold seventh place in the East by one game.
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Spurs 94, Mavericks 76
Boris Diaw scored 19 points, helping the Spurs defeat the Dallas Mavericks 94-76 to split the season series with two victories apiece.
Dallas (45-28) committed 18 turnovers and lost guard Monta Ellis with an injury to his right knee.
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Rockets 120, Timberwolves 110
James Harden recorded his league-leading 31st 30-point game, and Josh Smith flirted with a triple-double, as the Houston Rockets clinched a postseason berth with a 120-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Harden finished with 33 points and eight assists for the Rockets (49-23), who closed to within a half-game of the Memphis Grizzlies for second in the West.
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Clippers 119, 76ers 98
Chris Paul scored 25 points as the Los Angeles Clippers battered the Philadelphia 76ers 119-98 to clinch a playoff berth for a fourth straight season.
The Clippers (48-25) have won six straight and are currently fifth in the Western Conference.
Nerlens Noel had a career-high 30 points and 14 rebounds for the Sixers (18-55).
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Celtics 96, Knicks 92
Isaiah Thomas scored 18 points off the bench and Boston kept their half-game lead on the final playoff spot in the East by beating the New York Knicks 96-92.
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Nets 106, Cavaliers 98
Joe Johnson paced a balanced scoring attack with 20 points and nine assists, leading the Brooklyn Nets to a 106-98 win over Cleveland.
The victory enabled Brooklyn (31-40) to keep pace with Boston and Indiana for eighth place in the East.