The Houston Rockets won their eighth straight game on Thursday, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 113-102. Houston's top scorer was Kevin Durant, who had 29 points.
Scores and Highlights for April 9
Houston Rockets 113, Philadelphia 76ers 102: Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson each scored 19 points for the Rockets. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 23 points. They were missing Joel Embiid because he had an appendectomy.
New York Knicks 112, Boston Celtics 106: At Madison Square Garden, the Knicks held off a late push from the Celtics. Tatum came back to New York and scored 24 points for the Celtics.
Toronto Raptors 128, Miami Heat 114: Brandon Ingram scored 38 points, tying his season high, and the Raptors beat the Heat.
The Indiana Pacers beat the Brooklyn Nets 123-94. Obi Toppin scored 26 points, which helped the Pacers end a three-game losing streak.
The Chicago Bulls beat the Washington Wizards 119-108 thanks to Tre Jones's 31 points and Leonard Miller's career-high 26 points.
Los Angeles Lakers 119, Golden State Warriors 103: Late in the fourth quarter at Chase Center, the Lakers held on for the win.
The Standings and the Playoff Picture
The playoff bracket is almost set, with only two games left for most teams.
East Leaders: The Detroit Pistons (58-22) have won the conference's top seed.
West Leaders: The Oklahoma City Thunder (64-16) have the best overall record in the NBA.
Secured Spots: In the West, the San Antonio Spurs (61-19), Denver Nuggets (52-28), and Houston Rockets (51-29) have all made the playoffs.
Race to Play In: The Philadelphia 76ers (43-37) and the Charlotte Hornets are currently tied for eighth place in the East.
