- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Ben Simmons’ hopes of going deep into the NBA playoffs have been boosted with Philadelphia securing a top-four spot in the Eastern Conference.
The 76ers have won 50 games in a regular season for the first time in 17 years after their 109-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
The star Australian rookie contributed 16 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
The Sixers (50-30), having clinched their 14th-straight win, hold third place with two games remaining after overtaking LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers, who they beat in their previous game.
They will face either Miami, Milwaukee or Washington in the first round of the play-offs, guaranteed home court advantage.
Remaining third into the post-season is important given they could face a vulnerable Boston in the second round, with the Celtics losing three of their past four as they reel from the loss of Melbourne-born star Kyrie Irving for the season.
The Celtics were beaten 112-106 by Atlanta, who are ranked last in the Eastern Conference, on Sunday.
Simmons was among five Philadelphia players in double figures against the Mavericks, with fellow guard JJ Redick leading the scoring with a team-high 18 points.
The 76ers finish the regular season on Tuesday at Atlanta and Wednesday at home against the Bucks.
The Cavaliers wrap up with a home-and-home series Monday and Wednesday against New York.
Philadelphia, who won just 10 games two seasons ago, hadn’t won 50 games in a season since going 56-26 in 2001.
Robert Covington (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Ersan Ilyasova (11 points, game-high 12 rebounds) recorded double-doubles for Philadelphia, who won their 14th straight game.
A fourth-quarter blitz from Atlanta stunned the Celtics, who are second in the east.
Dewayne Dedmon had five points in the final 91 seconds to help lift the Hawks to victory at TD Garden.
Domantas Sabonis scored a career-high 30 points and Victor Oladipo finished with 27 as the fifth-placed Indiana Pacers held on for a 123-117 victory over the host Charlotte Hornets.
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.