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NBA: Celtics close in on home-court advantage
By The Associated Press
Saturday, March 29, 2008 | No comments posted.
BOSTON — Paul Pierce scored 27 points, Kevin Garnett added 21, and the Boston Celtics moved closer to wrapping up the top record overall by avenging last weekend’s loss in New Orleans with a 112-92 win over the Hornets Friday.
Eastern-conference leading Boston (57-15) opened its advantage to six games over the idle Detroit Pistons with 10 games left. The Hornets (49-22) had a five-game winning streak halted.
New Orleans, which leads a strongly contested Western Conference, beat Boston 113-106 last Saturday night.
Chris Paul paced the Hornets with 22 points and 10 assists. Peja Stojakovic had 17 points and David West 14.
Hawks 106, Bulls 103
ATLANTA — Mike Bibby scored 30 points and the Hawks held on after nearly blowing a 22-point lead, giving themselves some breathing room in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a victory over the slumping Bulls.
The Hawks were up 31-12 before some late-arriving fans had even settled in their seats, and they appeared headed for a laugher when Al Horford’s dunk made it 72-50 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter.
But led by Ben Gordon, the Bulls twice closed within a point in the final minutes and had a chance to force overtime in the frenetic closing seconds. Gordon, who scored 16 of his 18 points in the fourth, got off a long 3-pointer that rimmed out as the horn sounded.
Luol Deng scored 19 points to lead the Bulls.
Pacers 123, Nets 115
INDIANAPOLIS — Danny Granger scored 26 points and the Indiana Pacers beat the New Jersey Nets to halt a two-game losing skid and boost their playoff hopes.
Troy Murphy had 21 points and 17 rebounds for Indiana after missing the previous game with strep throat.
Vince Carter scored 33 points, Devin Harris scored a career-high 27 and Josh Boone had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Nets, who are just a game ahead of the Pacers after the loss. Both teams are chasing Atlanta for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Suns 107, 76ers 93
PHILADELPHIA — Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points, Raja Bell had 20 and the Suns avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season with a win over the 76ers.
Andre Miller had 16 points and 10 assists, Lou Williams scored 15 points and Andre Iguodala had 13 for Philadelphia.
Raptors 103, Knicks 95
TORONTO — Chris Bosh had 29 points and 10 rebounds, Rasho Nesterovic added 18 points, and the Raptors beat the Knicks.
Jamal Crawford scored 26 and Jared Jeffries had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who have won just two of their past 15 games.
Spurs 99, Timberwolves 84
SAN ANTONIO — Manu Ginobili scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and the Spurs picked up their sixth straight win with a victory over the Timberwolves.
The Spurs, who were in fifth place in the West, moved into second place and sit just percentage points behind New Orleans. San Antonio was the first team in the conference to hit the 50-win mark.
Ryan Gomes led the Timberwolves with 17 points and Al Jefferson added 14.
Magic 103, Bucks 86
MILWAUKEE — Dwight Howard had 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Magic to their franchise-record 24th road victory with a win over the Bucks.
Mo Williams finished with 18 points and five assists for Milwaukee.
Jazz 121, Clippers 101
SALT LAKE CITY — Carlos Boozer scored 34 and Deron Williams had 32 points to overcome the loss of the three other Utah starters and lead the Jazz past the reeling Los Angeles Clippers.
Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Brewer did not dress due to the effects of a stomach virus. Andrei Kirilenko was scoreless in nine minutes before leaving with spasms in his right calf. But Williams and Boozer provided all the offensive firepower the Jazz needed and both topped 30 points for the first time in game.
Corey Maggette scored 28 points for the Clippers and Chris Kaman had 16 points in his second game back from a nine-game absence with back spasms.
Wizards 114, Kings 108
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Antawn Jamison had 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who used a big third quarter to beat the Kings.
Grizzlies 114, Lakers 111
LOS ANGELES — Rudy Gay led five players in double figures with 28 points and the Grizzlies beat the Lakers despite 53 points by Kobe Bryant against the NBA’s worst road team Friday night.
Bryant scored 50 or more points for the 23rd time and the second this month.
Bobcats 96, SuperSonics 93
SEATTLE — Raymond Felton hit a crucial basket along with a pair of free throws in the final minute to help lift the Bobcats over the SuperSonics.
Felton hit a 20-footer with 49.8 seconds left to give the Bobcats a 92-91 lead. On the Sonics’ next possession, Earl Watson turned the ball over to foil Seattle’s chance to respond.
Kevin Durant led the Sonics with 18 points.
Eastern-conference leading Boston (57-15) opened its advantage to six games over the idle Detroit Pistons with 10 games left. The Hornets (49-22) had a five-game winning streak halted.
New Orleans, which leads a strongly contested Western Conference, beat Boston 113-106 last Saturday night.
Chris Paul paced the Hornets with 22 points and 10 assists. Peja Stojakovic had 17 points and David West 14.
Hawks 106, Bulls 103
ATLANTA — Mike Bibby scored 30 points and the Hawks held on after nearly blowing a 22-point lead, giving themselves some breathing room in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a victory over the slumping Bulls.
The Hawks were up 31-12 before some late-arriving fans had even settled in their seats, and they appeared headed for a laugher when Al Horford’s dunk made it 72-50 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter.
But led by Ben Gordon, the Bulls twice closed within a point in the final minutes and had a chance to force overtime in the frenetic closing seconds. Gordon, who scored 16 of his 18 points in the fourth, got off a long 3-pointer that rimmed out as the horn sounded.
Luol Deng scored 19 points to lead the Bulls.
Pacers 123, Nets 115
INDIANAPOLIS — Danny Granger scored 26 points and the Indiana Pacers beat the New Jersey Nets to halt a two-game losing skid and boost their playoff hopes.
Troy Murphy had 21 points and 17 rebounds for Indiana after missing the previous game with strep throat.
Vince Carter scored 33 points, Devin Harris scored a career-high 27 and Josh Boone had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Nets, who are just a game ahead of the Pacers after the loss. Both teams are chasing Atlanta for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Suns 107, 76ers 93
PHILADELPHIA — Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points, Raja Bell had 20 and the Suns avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season with a win over the 76ers.
Andre Miller had 16 points and 10 assists, Lou Williams scored 15 points and Andre Iguodala had 13 for Philadelphia.
Raptors 103, Knicks 95
TORONTO — Chris Bosh had 29 points and 10 rebounds, Rasho Nesterovic added 18 points, and the Raptors beat the Knicks.
Jamal Crawford scored 26 and Jared Jeffries had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who have won just two of their past 15 games.
Spurs 99, Timberwolves 84
SAN ANTONIO — Manu Ginobili scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and the Spurs picked up their sixth straight win with a victory over the Timberwolves.
The Spurs, who were in fifth place in the West, moved into second place and sit just percentage points behind New Orleans. San Antonio was the first team in the conference to hit the 50-win mark.
Ryan Gomes led the Timberwolves with 17 points and Al Jefferson added 14.
Magic 103, Bucks 86
MILWAUKEE — Dwight Howard had 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Magic to their franchise-record 24th road victory with a win over the Bucks.
Mo Williams finished with 18 points and five assists for Milwaukee.
Jazz 121, Clippers 101
SALT LAKE CITY — Carlos Boozer scored 34 and Deron Williams had 32 points to overcome the loss of the three other Utah starters and lead the Jazz past the reeling Los Angeles Clippers.
Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Brewer did not dress due to the effects of a stomach virus. Andrei Kirilenko was scoreless in nine minutes before leaving with spasms in his right calf. But Williams and Boozer provided all the offensive firepower the Jazz needed and both topped 30 points for the first time in game.
Corey Maggette scored 28 points for the Clippers and Chris Kaman had 16 points in his second game back from a nine-game absence with back spasms.
Wizards 114, Kings 108
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Antawn Jamison had 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who used a big third quarter to beat the Kings.
Grizzlies 114, Lakers 111
LOS ANGELES — Rudy Gay led five players in double figures with 28 points and the Grizzlies beat the Lakers despite 53 points by Kobe Bryant against the NBA’s worst road team Friday night.
Bryant scored 50 or more points for the 23rd time and the second this month.
Bobcats 96, SuperSonics 93
SEATTLE — Raymond Felton hit a crucial basket along with a pair of free throws in the final minute to help lift the Bobcats over the SuperSonics.
Felton hit a 20-footer with 49.8 seconds left to give the Bobcats a 92-91 lead. On the Sonics’ next possession, Earl Watson turned the ball over to foil Seattle’s chance to respond.
Kevin Durant led the Sonics with 18 points.
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