Stakes is High

Two days of regular season basketball left. Let's go.

Good morning. A different flavor of fine art this morning.

Let’s basketball.

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Scores

Bulls 127, Pistons 105 — The Bulls have clinched the No. 9 seed, so the Hawks will be visiting them in one of the sadder play-in games in memory next week. Chicago is a full seven games worse than the No. 9 seed in the West. Can’t wait!

Knicks 118, Celtics 109 — Big win for New York over a Boston team running out the clock on the regular season. Jalen Brunson with a 39-point game.

The Knicks are now 18-3 on the season when O.G. Anunoby suits up.

Things are all pretty simple for the Knicks’ playoff seeding now. Win one and they guarantee no worse than No. 3. Win both and they can take No. 2 if the Bucks lose both of their games. Lose both and they could slide to No. 4 or, if the stars align against them, No. 5. They play the Nets Friday and the Bulls Sunday.

Rockets 121, Jazz 124

Pelicans 135, Kings 123 — New Orleans completes the five-game season sweep of the Kings. There’s just nothing Sacramento can do with Zion Williamson. In fairness, there’s nothing most teams can do with Zion Williamson. But the Kings are especially unable to slow him. C.J. McCollum has a habit of lighting up the Beam Team, too.