Kings beat Pistons to boost post-season hopes

The Sacramento Kings boosted their NBA post-season hopes with a 127-117 win at the Detroit Pistons.

Zach LaVine scored 43 points and DeMar DeRozan 37 for the Kings, who came from 18 points down to secure a third successive victory.

They remain ninth in the Western Conference, one win ahead of the Dallas Mavericks.

Teams finishing from seventh to 10th qualify for next week’s play-in tournament.

The only side who can deny the Kings are the 11th-placed Phoenix Suns, who have three fewer wins with four regular-season games remaining.

In the play-ins, seventh plays 10th and eighth meets ninth, with the winners progressing to the play-offs.

The Miami Heat, assured of a play-in place in the East, won 117-105 at home against the already eliminated Philadelphia 76ers, who suffered a 12th successive defeat.

 The Sacramento Kings close in on a play-in spot with a 127-117 win at the Detroit Pistons in the NBA.