Western Conference

Warriors seal first

With nine games to go in their season, the Golden State Warriors (60-13) are the insurmountable leaders in the West.

For not the first or last time this season, Steph Curry (25 points, six assists) paced his team in the difference-making 108-95 win over Milwaukee Bucks.

Elsewhere, the Houston Rockets (49-23), Memphis Grizzlies (50-23) and LA Clippers (48-25) have all sealed their play-off spots. The Clippers did it with a Chris Paul-inspired 119-98 win over the 76ers, despite a 30-point game from rookie Nerlens Noel. DeAndre Jordan was also big in the win, amassing 17 points and 20 rebounds.

The San Antonio Spurs (46-26) and the Dallas Mavericks (45-28) are not too far from post-season safety, while by all indications the OKC Thunder (41-32) will hold off the New Orleans Pelicans (38-24) for the final slot. That would Westbrook’s Thunder in for a tasty first round match-up with Curry’s Warriors. The absence of Kevin Durant for four-to-six months will most definitely take away from the seven-game tilt, however.

Meanwhile, LaMarcus Aldridge’s 27 points and nine rebounds saw the Trailblazers continue on the road to their probable match-up with the Clippers as they beat onetime playoff hopefuls Phoenix Suns 87-81.

The huge match-up and possible, if not not probable Western finals preview this week was the number one ranked Warriors against their nearest competitors the Grizzlies. The Warriors showed the class on their way to a franchise record 59th win.

The Splash Brothers Curry and Thompson combined for 66 points on amazing 14-21 shooting from beyond the arc. Curry also had 10 points in the 107-84 blowout.

Eastern Conference

Paul George nears return

As his team battles to make the play-off, All-Star guard Paul George is on day-to-day as to whether he’ll return for the Indiana Pacers. The guard suffered a brutal leg injury before the summer and hasn’t played since, but is now enthusiastic to get going and give his team a well-needed lift.

The Pacers (31-41) are one game behind the Celtics (32-40) who are in eighth, the final play-off slot. The two teams are split by the Brooklyn Nets (31-40) as the Eastern play-off race goes down to the wire. Charlotte Hornets (31-41) also remain in the mix.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks (55-18) clinched first place in the East this week, with a 99-86 win over seventh-seeded Miami Heat (33-39). The Nets, however, snatched a crucial win to end a streak of four wins on the trot for the Cleveland Cavaliers (47-27). The Brooklyn bench came up big in the 106-98 win, despite 50 points between Kyrie Irving and LeBron James.

The Chicago Bulls are now sure of a play-off berth after Pau Gasol’s 27 points and 12 rebounds led them to a 98-86 victory over the Hornets early in the week. It was Gasol’s 47th double-double of the season after his absolute rejuvenation since leaving the Lakers.

The Toronto Raptors (43-30) and the Washington Wizards (41-32) continue to be steady as they edge towards a first round bout in the post-season.