Associated Press
The NBA roundup …
CHARLOTTEó Boris Diaw scored 20 points, Stephen Jackson added 19 despite a sore hamstring, and the Charlotte Bobcats provided more misery for the slumping New York Knicks with a 114-106 victory Saturday night to complete an impressive two-day stretch.
A night after a stunning comeback win in Boston, the Bobcats sent the Knicks to their sixth straight loss despite 36 points from Carmelo Anthony to remain in contention for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Bobcats built a 20-point third-quarter lead and withstood an Anthony-fueled rally that got New York within 110-106 with 1:34 left. The Knicks didnít score again to fall to 7-12 since acquiring Anthony and Chauncey Billups last month.
Charlotte, the NBAís second-lowest scoring team coming in at 92.8 points a game, shot 47 percent and held a 46-39 rebounding advantage. The Bobcats entered the night two games behind Indiana for eighth place in the East.
The Knicks, who once appeared a lock for the postseason, shot 40 percent and saw their lead over Charlotte fall to 41/2 games.
Jackson, hobbled by a strained left hamstring thatís left him in and out of the lineup for the past month, had a key tip in and a layup late despite picking up his 15th technical foul in an uneven performance.
But seven other players reached double figures for the Bobcats, who rallied from 13 points down in the fourth quarter in Boston on Friday.
Hawks 98, Nets 87
ATLANTA ó The Atlanta Hawks took control with 19 straight points early in the game and clinched a playoff spot by beating the New Jersey Nets 98-87 on Saturday night.
Al Horford had 23 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta, including six straight points late in the game to fend off a comeback attempt by New Jersey. Josh Smith added 22 points for the Hawks, who are in the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
Atlanta lost five-time All-Star guard Joe Johnson with a strained right thumb in the third quarter.
Pistons 100, Pacers 88
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. ó Richard Hamilton scored 23 points, and the Detroit Pistons held off the Indiana Pacers.
The Pistons went on a 21-3 run during the third quarter to take an 18-point lead. But, the Pacers, who are fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, cut the lead to six in the fourth quarter.
Hamilton then drove for an easy layup, and made a nice pass to Rodney Stuckey for a layup to make it 90-80.
NOTE
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. ó Dwyane Wade and LeBron James tried a different sort of courtside view on Saturday night.
At tennis.
The Miami Heat stars showed up at the Sony Ericsson Open to be part of a coin toss before world No. 1 Rafael Nadal played against Japan’s Kei Nishikori. Wade’s two sons, Zaire ó the actual flipper of the coin ó and Zion, were there as well, on the court for handshakes from Nadal and a quick photo or two just before the match.
“There’s certain things in Miami that guys should experience,” Wade said. “So I had to drag LeBron out here, but I think this is something he’ll probably come back to next year and come back for years after that. This is a good experience. It’s something different and it’s a great day off, getting over here with the kids.”