Associated Press
The NBA roundup …
MIAMI ó Dwyane Wade had one more argument for MVP voters: the second-best scoring show in Miami Heat history.
Wade scored 55 points, one shy of the franchise record, and the Heat wrapped up the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating the New York Knicks 122-105 on Sunday night.
Miami will play fourth-seeded Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs.
Wade shot 19-for-30 from the field, set a career high with six 3-pointers, and nearly topped Glen Rice’s record of 56 points before leaving with 1:06 left.
Michael Beasley finished with 28 points and 16 rebounds for the Heat, who also got 15 points from Mario Chalmers.
Hornets 102, Mavericks 92
NEW ORLEANS ó Chris Paul narrowly missed his seventh triple-double this season with 31 points, 17 assists and nine rebounds, and the New Orleans Hornets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 102-92 to earn a split in a key late-season home-and-home series.
Paul had 20 of his points in the second half. For the game, he shot 11-of-15 from the field ó making both 3-pointers he tried ó and 7-of-7 from the foul line.
“Paul was setting everybody up and he was scoring, so that’s why he’s one of the best point guards in the league,” said Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, who had 29 points and 14 rebounds.
David West scored 31 points to help New Orleans (49-31) move a game ahead of Dallas for the sixth playoff seed in the West.
Raptors 111, 76ers 104
TORONTO ó Chris Bosh scored 22 points, Jose Calderon had 11 points and 11 assists, and the Toronto Raptors beat Philadelphia 111-104, handing the 76ers their season-high fifth straight loss.