Overview
- Detroit’s 118-100 win in Charlotte on Friday locked the Hornets into the play-in and gave the Pistons their 59th victory after they had already clinched the East’s top seed.
- East seeds 2 through 4 settled Friday as Boston secured No. 2 by tying the NBA record with 29 threes, New York clinched No. 3, and Cleveland landed at No. 4.
- Victor Wembanyama returned from a rib bruise with 40 points and, by surpassing the NBA’s 65-game requirement, ensured eligibility for major awards as San Antonio held the West’s No. 2 seed.
- A league-high 168 players were held out Friday as teams prioritized rest, and Denver still won its 11th straight with reserves to guarantee at least the West’s No. 4 seed, with coaches noting Nikola Jokic still needs one more appearance for award eligibility.
- Earlier in the week, Michigan won the NCAA men’s basketball title with Elliot Cadeau named Most Outstanding Player, and on Thursday Denver edged Michigan 4-3 in double overtime to reach the NCAA men’s hockey final against Wisconsin.