Associated Press
The NBA roundup …
CHARLOTTE ó Andray Blatche had 25 points and 17 rebounds, Jordan Crawford added 23 points and the Washington Wizards made it two straight road wins while putting a dent in Charlotteís postseason hopes with a 97-91 victory over the Bobcats on Sunday night.
After a 1-35 start away from home that threatened to match an NBA record for futility, the Wizards followed a victory at Utah last week by building a 19-point third-quarter lead.
Matt Carroll scored 17 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter for the Bobcats, who entered the night two games behind Indiana for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. They couldnít overcome Stephen Jacksonís absence and Washingtonís dominance on the boards.
Celtics 101, Pistons 90
BOSTON ó Kevin Garnett scored 23 points and the Boston Celtics got a rare, brief and potentially final glimpse of Shaquille O’Neal in a 101-90 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
Paul Pierce scored 22 points and Rajon Rondo added 14 assists.
Knicks 123, Cavaliers 107
NEW YORK ó The New York Knicks are back in the playoffs, clinching their first postseason berth since 2004 with a 123-107 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers behind 28 points from Amare Stoudemire.
Shortly after Charlotte’s home loss to Washington, the Knicks snapped an 11-game losing streak against the Cavaliers to secure their spot. They are seventh in the Eastern Conference, but closed within 11/2 games of the 76ers, with a game in Philadelphia this week.
Spurs 114, Suns 97
SAN ANTONIO ó George Hill scored 29 points and the San Antonio Spurs stopped the longest skid of Tim Duncan’s career, beating up the Phoenix Suns 114-97 Sunday and ending a six-game losing streak.
The win kept the Spurs at least 11/2 games ahead of the surging Lakers.
Nuggets 95, Lakers 90
LOS ANGELES ó Danilo Gallinari scored 22 points, Kenyon Martin scored six of his 18 in the final 3:24, and the stubborn Nuggets hung on for a 95-90 victory that extended their winning streak to six games.
Kings 106, Jazz 97
SACRAMENTO, Calif. ó Tyreke Evans had 24 points and 10 assists to lead the Sacramento Kings past slumping Utah.
Heat 108, Nets 94
NEWARK, N.J. ó LeBron James had 31 points and 11 rebounds, and the Miami Heat opened a 16-point first-quarter lead and never looked back in a 108-94 victory over struggling New Jersey.
Dwyane Wade added 18 points despite a first-quarter thigh injury and Chris Bosh had 16 as the Heat won their third straight and eighth in nine games.
The win pulled Miami (54-23) within 21/2 games of idle Chicago (56-20) in the race for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.