NBA wrap: Pelicans, Spurs, Thunder, Nuggets win to further scramble West playoff....

NBA wrap: Pelicans, Spurs, Thunder, Nuggets win to further scramble West playoff picture

Anyone hoping Saturday would help clear up the Western Conference playoff picture was sorely disappointed. An improbable turn of events made things even more confusing.

The day began with the fourth-place Jazz and the ninth-place Nuggets separated by only two games. In between, the Pelicans, Spurs, Thunder and Timberwolves were separated by a mere half game.

But with four of those teams playing Saturday, surely one or two would stumble and the pack would break up, right?
Wrong. The Pelicans, Spurs, Thunders and Nuggets all won, and the teams from positions 4 through 9 that were separated by two games to start the day are now only 1 1/2 games apart.

So much for clarity in that situation.

And the four teams that won Saturday weren't exactly playing at home against teams tanking to win the lottery.

— Anthony Davis (34 points) and the Pelicans went to Golden State and beat the Warriors, 126-120.
— The Thunder traveled to Houston, where the Rockets had lost only six times all season, and won, 108-102, behind Russell Westbrook's 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

— The Spurs beat the No. 3 seed Trail Blazers in San Antonio, 116-105, behind 28 points and eight rebounds from LaMarcus Aldridge.
— The Nuggets visited Los Angeles and eliminated the Clippers from the Western Conference playoff race with a 134-115 win.

While the uncertainty in the Western Conference standings is tough on the teams that are fighting to stay in the playoff race, it's also hard on the teams that have already clinched a spot. For example, the Warriors have locked down the No. 2 seed in the West, but coach Steve Kerr told reporters Saturday the team's video staff is "working overtime" trying to produce scouting tapes for six possible different opponents.

"We've got everybody's schedule on our board in the coach's office, we've got standings up," Kerr said (via ESPN). "Basically, we spend most of our time trying to predict what's going to happen, and we're all wrong, and the next day, we re-shuffle the deck and we guess again. We've been guessing the last week and still no clarity."

Studs of the night

The Nuggets got a much-needed victory against the Clippers thanks in large part to Nikola Jokic and Will Barton. Jokic posted a triple-double (23/11/11) while Barton scored 31.

Kevin Durant had 41 points, including 19 in the third quarter, and 10 rebounds in the Warriors' loss to the Pelicans.

Dud of the night

Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu had as many turnovers as points (3) on 1-of-6 shooting in Portland's loss to the Spurs.
Highlight

Rajon Rondo throws an alley-oop almost from midcourt that finds Anthony Davis at just the right spot.

Rajon Rondo and Anthony Davis were on the same page and connected on the impressive long range alley-oop in tonight's #AssistOfTheNight! #DoItBig pic.twitter.com/21mumjvMqY

— NBA (@NBA) April 8, 2018

Two great passes, from James Harden and PJ Tucker, set up Clint Capela for the slam.

Tucker with the quick oop to Clint!#Rockets #NBAonABC pic.twitter.com/RDcAK48lrT

— NBA (@NBA) April 8, 2018

What's next Jazz (46-33) at Lakers (34-45), 6 p.m. ET — The Jazz currently are fourth in the West, which means nothing in that tight playoff race. Although it's not likely, a couple of losses in their final three games could conceivably drop them as low as the No. 8 seed. Several of the Lakers' biggest stars are sitting out due to injury, which will give some reserves a chance to show their stuff.