The Dallas Mavericks held off the Bulls 120-119 in Chicago to strengthen their position in the three-team battle with Phoenix and Sacramento for the last two places in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
Klay Thompson scored 20 points, P.J. Washington added 19 and Anthony Davis chipped in 18 for the Mavs, who led by 12 points with less than three minutes to play only for the Bulls to close within two.
A pair of free throws from Thompson restored a four-point cushion and the Mavs escaped.
The Kings, meanwhile, fell 121-91 to the Magic in Orlando where Paolo Banchero scored 24 points in three quarters for the Magic — who are neck and neck with Atlanta for seventh place in the East.
The Bulls’ defeat left them level on 33-41 with the Miami Heat as they jockey for position in the Eastern Conference play-in.
The Heat, fueled by 30 points from Tyler Herro, notched their fourth straight victory, 118-95 over a Philadelphia 76ers team already out of playoff contention.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Justin Casterline/Getty Images
