NBA Round Up: Westbrook, Curry drops 45, 42 in OKC, Warriors wins as Cavs reclaim top seed from Celtics
The Cleveland Cavaliers swung the battle of the Eastern Conference back in their favour with victory over the Boston Celtics, while Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook missed out on a record-breaking triple-double.
Reigning NBA champions the Cavaliers reclaimed the top seed in the east after beating the Celtics 114-91 on Wednesday.
Westbrook posted 45 points for the Thunder in their 103-100 win against the Memphis Grizzlies but he fell a rebound short of breaking Oscar Robertson’s single-season triple-double record.
The Golden State Warriors made it 13 successive victories and clinched the Western Conference by downing the Phoenix Suns 120-111, while the San Antonio Spurs suffered a shock 102-95 loss at home to the Los Angeles Lakers.
LEBRON DOMINATES AGAINST CELTICS
The Cavs needed a big performance from their star and they got it.
In Wednesday’s blockbuster showdown in Boston, LeBron James put up 36 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two blocks.
The win put Cleveland a game ahead of Boston for the top seed in the conference with four games to play and also secured the season series 3-1 in the Cavs’ favour.
Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 26 points.
WESTBROOK HAS TO WAIT FOR RECORD
It was a case of so close but yet so far for Westbrook, who missed out on a 42nd triple-double.
Seeking to eclipse Robertson’s triple-double record, Westbrook had 45 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
WARRIORS EXTEND STREAK AS CURRY STARS
It is 13 games and counting for the red-hot Warriors.
And the Warriors had reigning MVP Stephen Curry to thank after he had 42 points and 11 assists.
Klay Thompson (22 points) was the only other Warriors player in double digits.
DISAPPOINTING SPURS FALL
The Lakers led all night as they downed the Spurs in San Antonio.
San Antonio trailed by as many as 26 points in a game which ended their eight-match winning streak against the Lakers.
THEY ALL COUNT!
Welp, 3 points is 3 points. pic.twitter.com/s6Pt5umMz9
— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2017
Russ is just a different type of athlete.#DEWxNBA pic.twitter.com/CdTysCncoV
— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2017
ROCKETS SECURE THIRD SEED, LOWRY LEADS RAPTORS
The Houston Rockets made sure of the third seed in the Western Conference with a 110-104 win at home to the Denver Nuggets.
Kyle Lowry’s double-double saw the Toronto Raptors past the Detroit Pistons 105-102, the Miami Heat accounted for the Charlotte Hornets 112-99, while the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-101.
CELTICS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK
After falling behind the Cavs, the Celtics are away to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.
