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 Pacers 116, Thunder 104
C.J. Miles scored a career-high-tying 30 points as the Indiana
Pacers stayed alive in the Eastern Conference playoff chase with a
victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Russell Westbrook scored a career-best 54 points, on 43 shots, but
was whistled for his 16th technical foul of the season, meaning he
will have to sit out Monday's home game against Portland.
Indiana (37-43) earned their fifth consecutive victory and moved
into a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East with
the Nets (37-43), though Brooklyn owns the tie-breaker between the
teams.
Oklahoma City (43-37) and New Orleans (43-37) remain tied for the
last Western Conference playoff berth, with the Pelicans owning the
tie-breaker.
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Rockets 121, Pelicans 114
James Harden scored 26 of his 30 points in the middle two periods
while Corey Brewer scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to help
the Houston Rockets rally for a critical victory over the New
Orleans Pelicans.
Brewer scored six points during a 14-3 run that lifted the Rockets
(54-26) to the lead before adding a transition basket for a 100-92
advantage with 8:12 left. The backup guard finished with 20 points.
The win tied Houston with the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis
Grizzlies, but the Rockets are sixth in the West due to
tie-breakers.
Pelicans forward Anthony Davis scored a team-high 27 points as New
Orleans (43-37) stayed tied with Oklahoma City for the final West
playoff spot.
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Spurs 107, Suns 91
Tim Duncan scored 22 points as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the
depleted Phoenix Suns.
The Spurs forward added 10 rebounds for San Antonio (55-26), who now
have one more win than the Memphis Grizzlies and are in first place
in the Southwest Division standings and second in the conference
standings.
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Celtics 117, Cavaliers 78
The Boston Celtics moved closer to clinching a playoff spot with a
victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Boston's (38-42) third successive win left them in seventh place in
the Eastern Conference and lead the eighth-place Brooklyn Nets by a
game.
The Cavaliers (51-29), who will be the second seed in the Eastern
Conference rested several key players including LeBron James.
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Bucks 96, Nets 73
Ersan Ilyasova scored 21 points and the Milwaukee Bucks punched
their ticket to the playoffs with a victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
Owners of the NBA's worst record a year ago, the Bucks (40-40) will
head into the post-season with the sixth-seed in the East.
Brooklyn (37-43), meanwhile, dropped into a tie with Indiana for the
final East playoff spot.
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[to top of second column] |
Wizards 108, Hawks 99
John Wall had 24 points after missing the last two games and the
Washington Wizards beat the Atlanta Hawks.
Bradley Beal scored 17 points as all five starters reached double
figures for the Wizards (46-34).
Atlanta (60-20), the Eastern Conference regular-season champion and
top seed in the playoffs, rested their starters.
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Pistons 116, Hornets 77
Jodie Meeks fired in 24 points off the bench as the Detroit Pistons
cruised past the depleted Charlotte Hornets.
Detroit won by their largest margin of the season as Greg Monroe
contributed 17 points and nine rebounds.
Noah Vonleh achieved career highs with 16 points and 12 rebounds to
lead the Hornets.
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Nuggets 122, Kings 111
Kenneth Faried scored a season-high 30 points, Wilson Chandler added
21 points and nine rebounds as the Denver Nuggets spoiled George
Karl's return to Pepsi Center with a win over the Sacramento Kings
on Sunday.
Karl was courtside in Denver for the first time since he was fired
by the Nuggets following the 2012-13 season.
He guided the team to a franchise-record 57 wins that season and was
named the NBA Coach of the Year, but another first-round play-offs
exit led to his dismissal.
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Mavericks 120, Lakers 106
Tyson Chandler recorded 20 points to lead seven Dallas players who
scored in double figures, and the Mavericks coasted past the Los
Angeles Lakers.
Richard Jefferson and Dirk Nowitzki had 17 and 16 points
respectively, for the Mavericks (49-31) who are locked into the
seventh spot in the Western Conference heading into the playoffs.
Dallas defeated the Lakers for the seventh consecutive game,
including the past three at Staples, and swept the season series for
the second year in a row.
- - (Editing by Jahmal Corner)
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