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Spurs’ remarkable NBA playoff run ends, Grizzlies, Suns alive
MIAMI, Aug 14, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies kept
their NBA playoff hopes alive with victories on Thursday that spelled the end
of the San Antonio Spurs’ remarkable run of 22 straight post-season
appearances.
The Grizzlies clinched a spot in this weekend’s play-in series for the
eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth with a 119-106 victory over
the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Suns completed a perfect 8-0 performance in the NBA’s restart
quarantine “bubble” in Orlando, Florida, with a 128-102 victory over the
Dallas Mavericks.
But Phoenix had to await the outcome of Portland’s clash with Brooklyn
later Thursday, with the Trail Blazers able to eliminate the Suns with a
victory.
The wins for Phoenix and Memphis combined to extinguish the hopes of San
Antonio shortly before the Spurs took the court against Utah.
The last time the Spurs failed to make the playoffs was 1997, and coach
Gregg Popovich then presided over a 22-season run of post-season appearances
that yielded five championships and a 170-114 playoff record.
Against Eastern Conference leaders Milwaukee, the Grizzlies took full
advantage of the absence of suspended Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Lithuanian Jarunas Valanciunas and Rookie of the Year candidate Ja Morant
both posted triple doubles, Valanciunas scoring 26 points with 19 rebounds
and 12 assists and Morant putting up 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
Dillon Brooks added 31 points for the Grizzlies, who will claim the eighth
seed if Portland lose to Brooklyn but will be ninth if the Blazers win.
The eighth-seeded team in the play-in series will need just one win to
advance to the post-season, while the lower-seeded team must win two.
The Suns, meanwhile, could be facing the ultimate in frustration — the
only perfect record in the restart and still no spot in the playoffs.
Devin Booker did what he could, scoring 23 of his 27 points in the first
half, when Phoenix connected on 65.9% of their shots on the way to a 76-57
halftime lead.
The Suns led by as many as 28 points against a playoff-bound Mavs team that
gave star Luka Doncic limited minutes and had Kristaps Porzingis sidelined
with a foot injury.
– Kings beat Lakers –
As the West’s four remaining playoff contenders battled it out, the
conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers coasted into the playoffs, falling 136-
122 to the Sacramento Kings in their final regular-season contest.
Buddy Hield scored 28 points and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 27 as the Kings
notched just their third victory in the restart.
Lakers superstar LeBron James, who was listed as “questionable” for the
game with a sore right groin, scored 17 points in less than 15 minutes of
action — all in the first half.
Dion Waiters led the Lakers with 19 points and Markieff Morris added 14.
“I think our guys are ready to get into that playoff environment,” Lakers
coach Frank Vogel said. “LeBron was able to get in, get a little bit of
rhythm so he doesn’t have such a long layoff between games … So there were
plenty of positives, but we certainly need to play better than today.”
BSS/AFP/GMR/0908 hrs