NBA round-up: New Orleans Pelicans edge closer to play-offs as Boston Celtics lose again

The Chicago Bulls beat the Detroit Pistons to secure ninth place in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage for their play-in game.

Struggling Pistons are bottom of the table with the 127-105 defeat their sixth in a row.

DeMar DeRozan scored 39 points with seven assists for the Bulls, who take on the Atlanta Hawks in next week’s play-in.

Steph Curry led the Golden State Warriors to a crucial 100-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Curry’s 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds helped the Warriors to their third straight win as they sit ninth in the table, guaranteed of a play-in place.

The Utah Jazz ended their 13-game losing streak with a narrow 124-121 victory over the Houston Rockets.

Keyonte George scored 20 points and Brice Sensabaugh added 17 to inflict a sixth defeat in seven games on the Rockets, who are 11th in the table – one spot outside the play-in places.

The top six teams in each conference qualify for the play-offs while the teams in seventh to 10th place face play-in games for the final two spots.