The Miami Heat secured a play-off spot with a 129-121 win at the Boston Celtics that all but condemned the Celtics to the new play-in tournament.
Miami’s 10th win in 13 games moved them into a tie for fifth in the Eastern Conference.
🎤⬇️ #BAMDPOY pic.twitter.com/7UL3XtsWLM
— x – Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 12, 2021
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers kept their play-off hopes alive with a 101-99 victory against the New York Knicks.
With LeBron James again absent through injury, Talen Horton-Tucker stepped up to hit the match-winning three-pointer.
The Lakers are hopeful James, who has missed their past five games with an ankle injury, can play against the Houston Rockets at home on Wednesday.
💥 @Bam1of1 did everything he needed tonight to punch our ticket back to the postseason pic.twitter.com/nixuGHQ8Gl
— x – Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 12, 2021
The result leaves the seventh-placed Lakers within one place of the Dallas Mavericks, who lost 133-104 to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The top six teams in each conference qualify directly for the play-offs, while teams finishing seventh to 10th compete for two further play-off places via the new play-in tournament.
The Chicago Bulls are currently on track to miss the post-season entirely, sitting in 11th place after a 115-107 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
