JAYLEN BROWN scored 25 points on Wednesday as the Boston Celtics kept up their push for the number two playoff seed in the Eastern Conference with a 117-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
With the identity of the six automatic playoff teams in the East already settled, the only issue remaining is to determine the final playoff seedings.
Boston sits behind leaders Miami with two games remaining in the regular season.
With Miami poised to lock up the top spot, needing just one win from their games against Atlanta and lowly Orlando, all eyes are on the battle for second seed where Boston, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers are in a three-way tussle.
Milwaukee and Philadelphia’s wins on Tuesday left all three teams locked on 49 wins apiece, meaning the Celtics’ 50th win of the season on Wednesday allowed them to move one game clear of their rivals.
Brown spearheaded a dominant performance for the in-form Celtics, who led from start-to-finish and had five players in double figures.
Al Horford weighed in with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Jayson Tatum finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as the Bulls -– occupying the sixth and final automatic playoff spot in the East -– fell to a third straight defeat.
“We just came out with a lot of energy,” Horford said, revealing the team is determined to maintain their form after center Robert Williams sustained a serious knee injury last month.
“We understood it was an important game for us, we wanted to get back to the way we’ve been playing before Rob went down. We came out with a lot of good energy tonight and were able to sustain it for the whole game.
“For the past month we’ve been playing playoff-level basketball. This is what I expect from our guys.”
The Celtics’ victory marks the first time since the 2017-2018 campaign that the franchise has posted 50 wins -– a source of pride for Boston coach Ime Udoka after his team’s sluggish start to the season.
“When I signed on here it was pretty much a given that we were going to win 50 games, that’s the expectation,” Udoka said. “It’s a good thing to get back to where we expected to be.”
Elsewhere in the East, the Brooklyn Nets overturned a 21-point third-quarter deficit to down the New York Knicks 110-98 at Madison Square Garden, outscoring their city rivals by 38-16 in the final quarter to clinch victory.
🔥 @KDTrey5's triple-double powers the @BrooklynNets 21-point comeback!
— NBA (@NBA) April 7, 2022
32 points
10 boards
11 assists
2 blocks pic.twitter.com/uKxF9WUKPp
Kevin Durant led the way back for Brooklyn with a 32-point triple double that included 11 assists and 10 rebounds while Kyrie Irving tallied 24 points with eight rebounds and seven assists.
Brooklyn, who are assured of a place in the play-in tournament next week, improved to 42-38.
But for Nets star Durant, Brooklyn’s thrilling comeback was too close for comfort.
“It’s risky, I hate being down like that,” Durant said. “I hate being that team, you know, get down, and we fight back. I don’t want that to be a part of who we are.
“But that situation may come and for us it’s about sticking together, making the right play regardless of the score. That’s what we leaned on tonight. We had a good spirit in that second half.”
In the Western Conference, the playoff-bound Dallas Mavericks brushed aside the eliminated Detroit Pistons with a 131-113 win.
Luka Doncic finished with 26 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds in just under 34 minutes on court, with Jalen Brunson adding 24 points.
In the late game, the Western Conference-leading Phoenix Suns, already assured of top seeding, suffered a 113-109 reverse on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Suns rested stars Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Jae Crowder and Deandre Ayton for the defeat.
Norman Powell led the Clippers scorers with 24 points.
“If everyone was fit at the start of the Six Nations you definitely wouldn’t have picked that backline but Ford, Watson and Joseph have all been excellent. Ford controls the team so well and Joseph has been fantastic so far.”
This quote brings to mind the benefits of picking players in the position they play week in week out for their clubs.
Haskell is 3-1 to run head-long as fast as he can into one of the posts again. Free money!
The guys who are lighting up the 6 nations wouldn’t even get picked if they were full strength.
Strength in depth or a head coach who can’t pick his best 15 players?
Heaslip will be a huge loss against England. Jordi Murphy isn’t good enough for this kind of test. I think the best option is Henderson, O Mahoney and O Brien at 8.
O’Brien has only played 8 once for Ireland, I think you’d be more likely to see POM move to 8 then SOB – but it won’t happen. Joe likes his structures and it makes more sense from a squad perspective for one natural 8 to drop in and replace another.
It’s a pity though because I would love to see that backrow, Henderson is something else.
Is there anything to be said for bringing on Madigan for Payne after 60 mins for the Sextón, Madigan, Henshaw axis we all want to see? Payne has been great in defence but he’s not gelling with Sextón fast enough.
I dont want to see that trio against England.
Let me guess? Keatley, JJ and Earls would be your pick? ;)
Nothing to do with any alleged pro munster bias more to do with Madigans weakness in defense.Leave Payne at 12.
I don’t want to see that trio ever, I don’t want to see Madigan on an international pitch as I don’t think he’s anywhere near that standard of player so please speak for yourself.
@Fecky Din: Madigan is a good defender, he has proven that. That statement is simply made because you don’t like him, and/or he is a pretty boy. The stats don’t lie however. He is solid in defence.
@Stuart: The problem with that trio is that Henshaw is an unbelievable 12 and we have plenty of good 13′s. Payne, Earls, McFadden, Cave and Fitzgerald. Then there is the fact that 10 cover isn’t that great, with only Madigan and Keatley at the moment. Personally I’d pick Earls/Fitzgerald, but we can’t deny Payne has been doing a good job
Lovely reasoned comment and a beautiful name. We should all strive to be more like young Rudiger here!
Back to my point, I’m not saying Madigan should start. I think Payne is a less risky option. But when the game needs to be won in the last quarter you need to take a calculate risk at a game breaker. Payne hasn’t been as electric for Ireland compared to where he had loads of space at 15 in the Pro12. Granted neither has Madigan but we got a glimpse of his vision in the perfect pass to TOD against Italy who admittedly scored when he had no right to!
Why would I want to see 3arls playing in the Centre or why in Gods name would I have Keatley instead of an on fire Sexton? Are you insane? Straight in with the provincial cr@pology. Grow up, its Ireland.
Captain Craic!
As long as Earls isn’t playing 12 or 13 then it will be fine.
Payne doesn’t play 12 !!!!
Utter nonsense – you know absolutely nothing about rugby if you can’t see the obvious talent of Madigan – you may not like his personality but his talent is undeniable. Just a really silly comment
I never said he’d no talent. He is, however, pretty much untested at test level and as for throwing him in at 12 against England, why? Henshaw and Payne are rock solid defensively and with space will prosper in attack. Madigan isn’t as good defensively as either IMO. As for my knowledge on rugby, you may be right. I might know nothing. Madigans personality is not my affair or business, as an Ireland fan I do not want him at 12 V England.
I agree with Patrick! A lot is said for picking players who play week in week out in a position
Luke Fitz deserves his go at 13… That man of the match performance v Wasps showed how good he can be
Would ya stop. Biggest game of the tourno and throw in an untested player at a position he hasn’t held down since underage, madness.
“Untested” Lions test starter with a grand slam and 3 Heineken Cup medals in his pocket?
More experience at 13 than Payne!
Playing right into our hands if everyone keeps tipping the English. . Ireland better as the underdogs backs to the wall (hopefully)
England look OK – but only in the second half of the matches they have played so far.
Thoughts on Jordi Murphy??
Lovely hair
I can show you plenty of examples of his dynamism in attack. Have you got any examples of his weakness in defence? He’s the only way we are scoring trying against England. Luke and Earls are playing well too. We won’t beat England with penalties…
There is nothing to be said for it, the chap makes me nervous when he leaves the bench to warm up or even hand out water, his decision making is poor, his ability to control a game is poor, he came on as a blood replacement for sexton during the French game and twice he dragged our backline out of shape as he didn’t know whether he was playing 10 or 12
Nah…he was solid when he came on. Slotted his penalty with confidence. Worked a great wrapped around to get an attack goin on a penalty advantage and if Heaslip had off loaded the pass in the tackle back to him he’d have set the backs up for a score out wide. I think he’s been black listed cause of one shite wolfhounds night and that’s really unfair
This team is built around solid defence and unfortunately for earls because he is a great attacking player. He simply isn’t strong enough in defence to warrant a place in the squad.
And Jones…
To be honest Ireland are the form team. Lets not lose sight of that fact and making others favourites as usual.
Why is it that just before any championship whether its football or rugby or whatever, even though England doesn’t have good form, suddenly they can win it. Ireland are the form team and that is a fact.
You can’t deny that England look good for the tournament so far.
But I think Joe Schmidt is too smart a coach for anyone to be convinced.
I have faith for Sunday week and if we win – I’m predicting Ireland 16 England 11 – and then it’s ours to lose.
COYBIG!!!!!!!!!!!!