New Orleans and Oklahoma City both won critical games on Monday to stay alive in the battle for the Western Conference's final playoff spot, while Brooklyn hurt its postseason chances with a loss to Chicago in the East.
Anthony Davis had 24 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks to move the Pelicans one step closer to a playoff berth with a 100-88 victory over Minnesota.
Tyreke Evans added 22 points and five assists and Eric Gordon scored 22 for the Pelicans (44-37). They have the same record as Oklahoma City, but hold the tiebreaker heading into the season finale Wednesday against San Antonio.
The Thunder avoided elimination by beating Portland 101-90.
Russell Westbrook scored 36 points Enes Kanter added 27 points and 13 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which finishes against Minnesota on Thursday.
Westbrook picked up his 16th technical at Indiana on Sunday, which would have been an automatic one-game suspension. It was rescinded on Monday, allowing him to play.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, fell into ninth place in the Eastern Conference after losing to Chicago 113-86.
Nikola Mirotic scored 26 points and Pau Gasol had 22 points and 11 rebounds as the Bulls clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Nets will need a win Wednesday and a loss by Indiana in at least one of its final two games to reach the postseason.
In other games that could impact playoff seeding, the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston both won to set up a three-way tie with idle San Antonio for the No. 2 seed in the West, while Memphis lost to Golden State to fall to sixth place in the conference.
Blake Griffin scored 22 points and DeAndre Jordan had 20 points and 21 rebounds as the Clippers beat Denver 110-103 for their sixth straight win.
The Clippers play at Phoenix on Tuesday in their season finale, while the Rockets host Utah in their finale on Thursday.
Short-handed Memphis, meanwhile, lost to NBA-leading Golden State 111-107.
Klay Thompson scored 26 of his 42 points in a sensational second quarter for the Warriors, who have already locked up the top seed in the playoffs.
Thompson finished 15 of 21 from the floor, including 8 of 10 from 3-point range.
Elsewhere, the East-leading Atlanta Hawks were shocked on their home floor, losing to the last-place New York Knicks 112-108.
Rookie Langston Galloway scored a career-high 26 points, hitting all six of his 3-point attempts, for the Knicks.
Miami kept its slim playoff chances alive with a 100-93 win over Orlando.
Cleveland's LeBron James returned from a day off to record a triple-double as the Cavaliers got ready for the playoffs with a 109-97 win over the Pistons.
James had 21 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as the Cavs improved to 33-9 since Jan. 15.
The Utah Jazz beat a second string Dallas Mavericks side 109-92, but it was a good night for Joe Ingles (15) and Dante Exum (10) as they combined for 25 points in a positive outing.
Milwaukee defeated Philadelphia 107-97 and Sacramento beat the Los Angeles Lakers 102-92.
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