Sports

NBA players are spending more time than ever working on the boards — but we’re not talking rebounds.

Victor Wembanyama reached the 65-game threshold for awards eligibility with a 40-point outing that included 13 rebounds in a 139-120 win over the Mavericks.

Around the NBA, no fewer than 168 players were held out of Friday’s games, including reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and 14 members of the Grizzlies.

Lakers coach JJ Redick believes other West teams that still have their seeding to be determined prefer Los Angeles as their first-round opponent in the playoffs.

The Celtics tied the franchise and NBA record with 29 3s on their way to clinching the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 playoff seed in a blowout win over the Pelicans.

Miami guard Terry Rozier, who has been on leave since October amid a sports gambling investigation, has been waived by the Heat.

Sixers star Joel Embiid has been discharged from a Houston hospital and is heading back to Philadelphia, with the team saying there is no set timeline for his return to the court.