Associated Press
The NBA roundup …
CHARLOTTE ó A year ago, the Miami Heat couldn’t wait to finish a horrendous, injury-plagued season. Now Dwyane Wade and his young teammates plan to be playing deep into the spring thanks to one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history.
As usual, Wade led the Heat’s latest milestone, scoring 27 points and dishing out 10 assists on Friday night as Miami clinched a playoff berth with a 97-92 comeback victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.
A year after going 15-67, the Heat joined the 1968-69 San Diego Rockets ó a team that included Heat president Pat Riley ó as the second NBA team to reach the postseason after winning 15 or fewer games the year before. The Rockets also recovered from a 15-67 disaster.
The Bobcats, who lost guard Raja Bell to a right calf injury in the third quarter, fell two games behind idle Chicago for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
“We can’t lose anymore at this point,” Felton said. “Every game is a critical game. Six more, we’ve got to go 6-0.”
Things were much more somber in Charlotte’s locker room. Like in their double-overtime loss to Boston on Wednesday, the Bobcats were on the short end of the free-throw count. The Heat had 24 attempts to Charlotte’s 12, including 16-0 in the fourth quarter.
“It’s very frustrating,” said Gerald Wallace, who led the Bobcats with 21 points.
Magic 116, Cavaliers 87
ORLANDO, Fla. ó Dwight Howard had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic rode a strong second-half start to go ahead by 41 points and hand the Cleveland Cavaliers their most lopsided loss of the season with a 116-87 blowout.
Celtics 104, Hawks 92
BOSTON ó Paul Pierce scored 21 points, and Rajon Rondo had 20 to help Boston maintain its hold on the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.
Kendrick Perkins had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Glen “Big Baby” Davis added 19 points in place of Kevin Garnett.
Spurs 126, Pacers 121
INDIANAPOLIS ó Tony Parker had 31 points and 10 assists, and Tim Duncan had 22 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio.
Timberwolves 103, Jazz 102
SALT LAKE CITY ó Ryan Gomes hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with a minute left and Minnesota snapped its nine-game road skid and Utah’s 15-game home winning streak.
Trail Blazers 107, Thunder 72
OKLAHOMA CITY ó LaMarcus Aldridge had 35 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, and Portland closed in on a playoff spot.
Grizzlies 107, Mavericks 102
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ó Rudy Gay had 27 points and 10 rebounds.