Associated Press
The NBA roundup …
CHARLOTTE — Boris Diaw scored 26 points and hit the tiebreaking free throw with 14 seconds left to lead the short-handed Charlotte Bobcats to a 98-97 victory over the gritty Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
Diaw added 11 assists and seven rebounds in becoming Charlotte’s main scoring option after Stephen Jackson was sidelined with his troublesome hamstring injury. Kwame Brown had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Bobcats, who won their fourth straight game to remain one game behind Indiana for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
It was another close win for the Bobcats despite another night of makeshift lineups.
Jackson tweaked his nagging left hamstring midway through the first quarter, an injury that’s had him in and out of the lineup for more than a month. Jackson returned in the second quarter, but could barely move, got no lift on his shot and didn’t return after halftime.
D.J. Augustin, playing through a twisted left ankle and sore right knee that knocked him out of Monday’s game, had 12 assists and eight points. Backup point guard Shaun Livingston (bruised tailbone) remained out and forward Tyrus Thomas was sidelined with pain and swelling in his surgically repaired left knee.
Reserve Dante Cunningham took advantage of his increased playing time to score 12 points for Charlotte, which trailed by eight in the third and 97-95 with 2:02 left.
With the game tied, Diaw got the ball in the post and drew a foul on Ryan Hollins. He hit the first free throw but was short on the second.
Cleveland grabbed the rebound, but advanced it slightly before calling a timeout, forcing them to put the ball into play from the side in the backcourt. After struggling to get into the frontcourt, coach Byron Scott called a second timeout with 2.8 seconds left.
Parker then got the ball on the left side, but his off-balance shot bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
Pacers 111, Pistons 101
INDIANAPOLIS — Darren Collison scored 20 points, Danny Granger added 17 and Indiana used a 31-12 run in the second quarter to pull away.
Josh McRoberts added 15 points and Roy Hibbert 12 for the Pacers, who maintained their hold on the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference — one game ahead of Charlotte.
Heat 123, Wizards 107
WASHINGTON — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat had a surprisingly tough time against the lowly Wizards — even after No. 1 draft pick John Wall was ejected.
James finished with 35 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Wade had 33 points and nine assists, and Chris Bosh scored 26, helping Miami get past Washington 123-107 and avoid what would have been a second consecutive embarrassing loss.
Bulls 108, Timberwolves 91
MINNEAPOLIS — Derrick Rose had 23 points and 10 assists in three quarters to help Chicago remain 21/2 games ahead of Boston and Miami in the race for the top seed in the East.
Carlos Boozer had 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls.
Hawks 85, Magic 82
ATLANTA — Joe Johnson’s floating one-hander in the lane put Atlanta ahead with 55.4 seconds remaining and Orlando’s Jameer Nelson missed two chances to tie it.
Hornets 95, Trail Blazers 91
NEW ORLEANS— Carl Landry scored 21 points and New Orleans jumped ahead of Portland for sixth place in the Western Conference.Knicks 120, Nets 116
NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points for the second straight game, including the tiebreaking jumper with 1:08 left, and New York rallied from a 16-point deficit.
Grizzlies 110, Warriors 91
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tony Allen scored 21 points to help assure Memphis of its first winning season since 2005-06.
Bucks 104, Raptors 98
TORONTO — Brandon Jennings scored 25 points, and Andrew Bogut and Drew Gooden both had double-doubles for Milwaukee.
76ers 108, Rockets 97
PHILADELPHIA — Jrue Holiday had 24 points and 12 assists.