UNDATED (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have clinched the first overall seed in the NBA playoffs, while the Memphis Grizzlies have wrapped up a playoff berth.
The Suns welcomed back Chris Paul before earning a 140-130 win over the Nuggets. Paul furnished 15 of his 17 points after halftime and finished with 13 assists in the Suns’ seventh straight victory. It was his first game since missing five weeks with a broken thumb.
Devin Booker had a season-high 49 points for the Suns, who went 11-4 without Paul.
The Nuggets got 28 points from Nikola Jokic, 23 from rookie Bones Hyland and 21 from Aaron Gordon.
Desmond Bane scored 30 points on 12 of 15 shooting as the Grizzlies hammered the Pacers, 133-103. Bane was 5 of 7 from outside the arc as Memphis made a season-high 21 3-pointers.
Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 20 points by hitting seven of his 13 shots, helping the Grizzlies shoot 54% from the field. De’Anthony Melton added 19 and John Konchar matched his career high with 18.
The blowout win came after the Grizzlies announced that Ja Morant will sit out at least two more weeks due to knee soreness. He has missed the Grizzlies’ last three games.
Morant is the Grizzlies’ leading scorer at 27.6 points a game. He missed 12 games earlier this year with a knee sprain.
Checking out Thursday’s other NBA action:
— Devonte’ Graham hit five 3-pointers on his way to season-high 30 points in the Pelicans’ 126-109 decision over the Bulls. CJ McCollum scored 25 to help New Orleans win for the fourth time in six games and solidify a playoff spot. Zach LaVine scored 39 points and Coby White added 23 for Chicago, which played without leading scorer DeMar DeRozan and lost for the fifth time in six games.
— Jrue Holiday had 24 points and 10 assists to help the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks withstand a late comeback attempt and beat the Washington Wizards 114-102 on Thursday night. Grayson Allen added 21 points and the Bucks never trailed despite playing without either of their two All-Stars: Khris Middleton missed a second straight game with a sore left wrist and Giannis Antetokounmpo was out for the second time in three games with a sore right knee.
— Pascal Siakam matched his season high with 35 points and Chris Boucher scored 17 in the Raptors’ 117-104 downing of the Cavaliers. OG Anunoby returned from injury to score 14 points as Toronto won for the first time in four home games. The Raptors tied Cleveland for the sixth-best record in the Eastern Conference with nine games to go in the regular season.
