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 The victory was the eighth in the final 11 games for the Pelicans.
Even though New Orleans and Oklahoma City finished with identical
records, the Pelicans earned the eighth and final playoff spot in
the Western Conference based on a 3-1 regular-season edge over the
Thunder.
The Pelicans will open the playoffs against No. 1 seed Golden State
in Oakland on Saturday.
Grizzlies 95, Pacers 83
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Center Marc Gasol posted a double-double with a
career-high 33 points and 13 rebounds as Memphis prevented Indiana
from claiming the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Grizzlies also helped themselves, moving up to the fifth seed in
the Western Conference and a first-round matchup with the
fourth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers.
Thunder 138, Timberwolves 113
MINNEAPOLIS -- Oklahoma City needed a win, and some help, to get
into the playoffs on Wednesday. They got halfway there.
Guard Russell Westbrook put on an offensive show for the Thunder,
posting 37 points, but with the New Orleans Pelicans winning as
well, Oklahoma City will be spectators when the playoffs begin.
Nets 101, Magic 88
NEW YORK -- Rookie guard Bojan Bogdanovic set a career high with 28
points and forward Joe Johnson capped a crucial 14-2 run with two
consecutive jump shots as the Nets claimed the eighth and final
playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Nets clinched the eighth
spot when the Indiana Pacers lost to Memphis late Wednesday evening.
Brooklyn will face the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
Cavaliers 113, Wizards 108 (OT)
CLEVELAND -- Kevin Love scored 19 points in limited minutes and
guard Matthew Dellavedova had 18 points and matched his career high
with 12 assists for Cleveland.
With nothing left for either team to gain on the final day of the
regular season, both sides rested most of their regular starters and
were just trying to get out of the night healthy. But Wizards
forward Otto Porter sprained his ankle in the third quarter and did
not return.
Raptors 92, Hornets 87
TORONTO -- Guard Kyle Lowry scored 26 points and dished out seven
assists as Toronto finished the regular season with a
franchise-record 49 wins.
Center Jonas Valanciunas added 18 points for the Raptors, whose
previous high victory total was 48, accomplished twice before,
including last season.
Celtics 105, Bucks 100
MILWAUKEE -- Forward Luigi Datome hit three 3-pointers and finished
with 22 points as Boston won its final tune-up before its
first-round match-up against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Forward Jonas Jerebko and center Kelly Olynyk each added 16 points
for Boston shot, which shot 49 percent as a team and made 13 of 30
3-point attempts.
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Bulls 91, Hawks 85
CHICAGO -- Guard Aaron Brooks scored 23 points off the bench, and
Chicago against Atlanta.
Guard Jimmy Butler added 21 points for the Bulls, who erased an
18-point deficit in the second half. Chicago secured the third seed
in the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they will face the
sixth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
Bulls guard Derrick Rose struggled in his fifth game back from a
right knee injury that sidelined him for 20 games from late February
to early April. He scored two points in 10 minutes during the first
half before watching the second half from the bench.
Rockets 117, Jazz 91
HOUSTON -- James Harden posted his fourth triple-double this season
as Houston turned an explosive second quarter into a win in their
regular-season finale on Wednesday night at the Toyota Center.
By virtue of the New Orleans Pelicans' 108-103 win over the San
Antonio Spurs, Houston clinched the Southwest Division title and
will play the Dallas Mavericks.
Heat 105, 76ers 101
PHILADELPHIA -- On a night when either team might have been able to
win for losing, Miami did the winning.
Forward Michael Beasley scored a season-high 34 points and forward
Henry Walker hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with nine seconds left for
Miami.
Mavericks 114, Trail Blazers 98
DALLAS -- Tyson Chandler scored 22 and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead
Dallas in an otherwise glorified scrimmage.
The two clubs came in with their playoffs seeds secure, although
neither had a first-round opponent sewn up as other games in the
Western Conference were setting the playoff pairings.
Pistons 112, Knicks 90
NEW YORK -- Detroit ended its season by stopping a four-game road
losing streak.
Detroit center Andre Drummond recorded his 48th double-double of the
season, scoring 17 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Only Chicago's
Pau Gasol had registered more double-doubles this season.
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