\n<\/p>\n
The Boston Celtics secured the top seed place in the NBA with six games left to play, ensuring home court advantage for the play-offs. <\/b><\/p>\n
The Celtics beat the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/b> 135-100 on Wednesday, with Kristaps Porzingis scoring 27 points and 12 rebounds. <\/p>\n
Their record this season, the best in the NBA, is 60 wins and 16 losses.<\/p>\n
The Eastern Conference Atlantic side are seeking a record 18th title, with their most recent win coming in 2008. <\/p>\n
Jayson Tatum also added 24 points and Jaylen Brown managed 23, pleasing the Celtics’ home fans after 13 days on the road. <\/p>\n
For the Thunder, Josh Giddey scored a team-high 17 points, Luguentz Dort added 15 and Chet Holmgren finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.<\/p>\n
They struggled without their season’s top scorers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, who were both missing through injury.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, the Toronto Raptors <\/b>suffered their 15th straight defeat, losing 133-85 to the Minnesota Timberwolves<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Anthony Edwards starred with 28 points for the Timberwolves, supported by Naz Reid (23) while Rudy Gobert scored 11 points and 15 rebounds. <\/p>\n
The result takes the Timberwolves narrowly to the top of the Western Conference table. <\/p>\n
The Milwaukee Bucks <\/b>lost 111-101 to the Memphis Grizzlies<\/b> as their injury struggles continued, playing without Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton and Patrick Beverley. <\/p>\n
Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo stepped up in their absence, with the former scoring 25 points and 10 rebounds and the latter adding 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. <\/p>\n
But Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr shone with a game-high 35 points and GG Jackson scored 15 points with 12 rebounds. <\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Lakers <\/b>beat the Washington Wizards <\/b>125-120, taking the Lakers to ninth in the Western Conference which would ensure a play-in spot. <\/p>\n
Anthony Davis scored 35 points and 18 rebounds while LeBron James added 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. <\/p>\n
The struggling Detroit Pistons <\/b>were beaten 121-113 by the Atlanta Hawks, <\/b>despite the Pistons’ Malachi Flynn scoring 50 points off the bench.<\/p>\n
Flynn’s tally was one point shy of the NBA record for points off the bench in a game, but was in vain as Jalen Johnson’s 28 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists secured the Hawks’ victory.<\/p>\n
The Orlando Magic <\/b>beat the New Orleans Pelicans <\/b>117-108 with the Magic’s Paolo Banchero scoring 32 points and Franz Wagner adding 24. <\/p>\n
The Brooklyn Nets <\/b>secured a narrow 115-111 win over the Indiana Pacers <\/b>with Noah Clowney adding 22 points off the bench, while Deandre Ayton scored 24 points and 16 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers<\/b> beat the Charlotte Hornets <\/b>89-86.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n