Western Conference playoff standings shifted significantly last night

The NBA Western Conference playoff picture sees significant changes following an exciting 11-game night. Key wins by the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers helped maintain their competitive positions. Cade Cunningham from the Pistons hit a game-winning three-pointer with just 0.6 seconds on the clock, leading his team to a 116-113 victory over the Miami Heat. This marked Cunningham's ninth triple-double of the season. In another thrilling matchup, the Pacers edged out the Dallas Mavericks 135-131, thanks to Andrew Nembhard's clutch three-pointer in the final moments. The Pacers' strong finish allowed them to stay fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Heat are struggling, facing their ninth consecutive defeat. Out West, the Houston Rockets stretched their winning streak to eight games, maintaining second place behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, who secured the top spot after a convincing victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets swapped places in the standings after the Lakers beat the Nuggets 120-108. The Sacramento Kings kept their Play-In Tournament hopes alive with a narrow victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are experiencing a tough patch with three straight losses. The Kings are now just 3.5 games behind the seventh and eighth playoff spots. The Phoenix Suns rose to the 10th seed after defeating the Chicago Bulls, with Devin Booker scoring 41 points. The Bulls are also aiming for a Play-In spot, having won five of their last seven games. In a notable performance, Sandro Mamukelashvili of the Spurs scored 34 points in under 20 minutes, setting a record for the most points scored in that timeframe. The Portland Trail Blazers continued their strong play, while the Utah Jazz halted a 10-game losing streak. Looking ahead, a key matchup will feature Coby White of the Bulls against his former teammates in Sacramento, as both teams seek to improve their Play-In position.