The Toronto Raptors basketball players became the 12th participants in this year’s playoffs in the NBA after they beat the Brooklyn Nets 136-101 on the last night of the league part of the competition.
The Raptors did not miss an opportunity against weak Nets achieve the success that ensured their appearance in the postseason for the first time in four years. RJ Barrett with 26 i Brandon Ingram with 25 baskets they led the scorers of the home team, while Scottie Barnes achieved “triple-double” with 18 interceptions and 12 rebounds and assists each.For the Nets, who ended another unsuccessful season with this, Tyson Etienne came off the bench and scored 20 points.
With this victory, Toronto even reached the fifth place in the Eastern Conference skipping the Atlanta Hawks, who in their last appearance lost on the road to the Miami Heat with 117-143. Both teams finished the league part of the season with a 46-36 win-loss ratio, but Toronto is better in the mutual ratio, so in the first round of the playoffs they will have the fourth-ranked Cleveland Cavaliers as their opponent, while Atlanta will play the third-ranked New York Knicks.
The remaining two pairs of the first round in the East will be known after the “play-in” tournament takes place during the week, the second Boston Celtics will play against the winner of the match between Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic which is on the program on Wednesday, while the best team of the East will Detroit Pistons find out about your opponent only on the night from Friday to Saturday, when the loser of the duel will be defeated Sixers and Magic play against the winner of the match Charlotte – Miami.
Philadelphia secured the home field in the “play-in” 126-106 with a home win against Milwaukee Bucksand Orlando’s 108-113 defeat on the road at Boston also helped her.
They are in the West Denver Nuggets confirmed third place ahead of the playoffs with a 128-118 road win against San Antonio Spurs who secured the second position earlier. Julian Strawther with 25 and Nikola Jokic with 23 goals led the Nuggets, while De’Aaron Fox scored 24 for the Spurs.
San Antonio finished the league part with a ratio of 62-20, and Denver with 54-28, and both teams could meet in the second round of the playoffs if they knock out their rivals in the first.
Champions Oklahoma City Thunder a long time ago they secured the best record in the league part of the season and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, so last night they played with reserves and suffered a high 103-135 home defeat against Phoenix Suns. Branden Carlson was the best for the Thunder with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Jamaree Bouyea scored 27 for the Suns.
The Thunder ended the season with a record of 64-18, and the Suns could be their first opponent in the playoffs if they lose on Tuesday against the Blazers, but then on Friday they beat the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors better.
A Clippers and Warriors played a “pregame” on Sunday for what awaits them on Wednesday when they will meet again, but then they will be defeated and end the season. On Sunday, the Clippers won 115-110 with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists from Benedict Mathurin, while Stephen Curry scored 24 for the Warriors.
The Clippers were also hoping to jump to the eighth place in the West, which would ensure them two chances to get to the playoffs, but for that they needed Portland’s home loss against the Sacramento Kings, which did not happen. The Blazers won 122-110 with 25 points from Deni Avdia, while Precious Achiuwa scored 27 for the Kings.
In the first round of the playoffs in the West, the fourth-ranked Los Angeles Lakers will play against the fifth-ranked Houston Rockets.
(Hina | Photo: Toronto Raptors)
