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76ers Pull Clear of Heat as Spurs Win 11th Straight and Gilgeous-Alexander Leads OT Return

Late-season swings are reshaping playoff races across both conferences.

Overview

  • Philadelphia beat Miami 124-117 to move 2.5 games ahead in the East race, with Tyrese Maxey scoring 28 and breaking the 76ers’ career three-pointers record as Joel Embiid added 26 points and 11 rebounds.
  • Miami’s depth took a hit as Norman Powell exited with a groin strain and did not return, while Nikola Jovic was ruled out pregame and Davion Mitchell was listed as questionable with an illness.
  • San Antonio recorded a 126-110 win in Brooklyn for its 11th straight victory, staying unbeaten in February as seven Spurs hit double figures and the streak tightened the gap to the West-leading Thunder.
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an abdominal strain to score 36 in Oklahoma City’s 127-121 overtime win over Denver, where Jamal Murray had 39, Nikola Jokic posted a 23-17-14 triple-double, and Lu Dort was ejected for a flagrant foul on Jokic.
  • Kevin Durant poured in a season-high 40 points to become the sixth NBA player to reach 32,000 career points in Houston’s 113-108 win at Orlando, while Boston shot 66.7% and hit 22 threes in a 148-111 rout of Brooklyn.