SportyTV | NBA: Nuggets sit entire starting lineup but win 11th straight

Jonas Valanciunas had season highs of 23 points and 17 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 127-107 in a battle of reserves Friday night.

Denver (53-28) won its 11th straight game to secure at least the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Julian Strawther finished with 22 points and David Roddy had a season-high 21.

The Nuggets sat their entire starting lineup despite battling for home-court advantage in the first round. A 21-5 run to open the fourth quarter gave them the win they needed and kept them in position for the No. 3 seed. Denver entered with a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Lakers, who were hosting Phoenix.

The Nuggets, who finish the season at San Antonio on Sunday night, prioritised rest over seeding.

Oklahoma City clinched the top seed overall Wednesday night and opted to rest most of its starting lineup. Lu Dort was the only starter who played for the Thunder and finished with five points. Coach Mark Daigneault said Dort needs to play at least 20 minutes in each of the final two games to qualify for season awards.

STREAK: EXTENDED pic.twitter.com/5WhgZnqNTY
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 11, 2026

Celtics tie NBA record with 29 3-pointers

The Boston Celtics flirted with a piece of NBA history in a 144-118 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

They didn't quite get it but did lock up something even more valuable: The No. 2 seed in the East in the upcoming playoffs.

The Celtics tied a franchise and NBA record with 29 3-pointers, equalling their total from Oct. 22, 2024, set against the New York Knicks. The Memphis Grizzlies (April 6 vs. Cleveland) and Milwaukee Bucks (Dec. 29, 2020 at Miami) also share the record.

When Hugo Gonzalez tied the mark with 1:20 remaining in the game, the TD Garden crowd began chanting, “One more three!" and rose to their feet.

Boston had three chances to break it in the final minute. First, Luka Garza passed up on an attempt and drove in for a dunk. After Garza blocked Jeremiah Fears' layup on the Pelican's ensuing possession, Baylor Scheierman missed a 3 from the wing off the back rim.

New Orleans' Derik Queen was fouled and hit a pair of free throws with 27 seconds to play, giving the Celtics one final chance. But coach Joe Mazzulla instructed his team to hold the ball and they took a shot clock violation with 1 second remaining.

Eight different Celtics players had at least two 3-pointers in the game. Big man Neemias Queta even got in on the action for Boston, knocking down his first career 3 to go along with 10 rebounds. Queta's 3 caused the entire bench to jump up in celebration.

Tied one NBA record and set another

: https://t.co/r3uxq0yT6P pic.twitter.com/XMAcGRAKjp
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 11, 2026

Hawks beat Cavs to clinch Southeast title

CJ McCollum scored 29 points and the Atlanta Hawks used a big third quarter to blow out the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-102, clinching a playoff spot and the Southeast Division title.

The Hawks had not won the Southeast Division since 2021, when they ultimately advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. They have been in the play-in tournament the last four seasons.

James Harden scored 20 points for the Cavs, who are locked into the No. 4 seed in the East. Jaylon Tyson returned from a 10-game absence to start and had 15 points.

Dyson Daniels had 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, his second triple-double of his career. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 18 points and Jalen Johnson added 18 points and nine rebounds before sitting out the final 10 minutes of the game.

The Hawks have won 14 of their final 15 home games ahead of the playoffs.