|
 Forward Pau Gasol added 27 points and 12 rebounds for Chicago, which
clinched a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season.
The Bulls also got 19 points and nine rebounds from forward Jimmy
Butler, who missed the previous 11 games because of a sprained left
elbow.
Guard Kemba Walker led Charlotte with 29 points. Guard Mo Williams
added 15 points off the bench for the Hornets, who lost for the
sixth time in eight games.
Grizzlies 103, Knicks 82
NEW YORK -- Memphis won its third straight game, turning back New
York at Madison Square Garden to wrap up a playoff berth for the
fifth consecutive season.
The Southwest Division-leading Grizzlies were led by forward Zach
Randolph's 23 points. Center Marc Gasol added 21 points and eight
rebounds.
Center Andrea Bargnani led the under-manned Knicks, who dressed just
nine players due to various injuries, with 18 points and point guard
Langston Galloway contributed 17 points. New York has dropped 11 of
its last 13 games and is riding a four-game losing streak.
The Knicks have lost 15 games by 20 points or more. They made just
4-of-18 3-pointers and committed 17 turnovers against Memphis.
Warriors 107, Wizards 76
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Golden State held Washington without a field goal
for nearly the first 11 minutes of the third quarter Monday night,
helping the Warriors extend a three-point lead to 24 by period's end
en route to an easy victory.
The Warriors completed a 6-0 sweep of their homestand and clinched
no worse than a tie for their first division title since the 1975-76
season. Guard Stephen Curry paced the Warriors with 24 points and
six assists.
Golden State entered the game having held its opponents to a
league-low 42.5 percent shooting, and it improved on that
significantly by harassing the Wizards into 1-for-18 shooting in the
third quarter and 27-for-81 (33.3 percent) overall. Washington's
point total was its lowest of the season.
Rockets 110, Pacers 100
INDIANAPOLIS -- Forward James Harden scored 44 points, including 21
of 22 from the free-throw line, and Houston handed reeling Indiana
its sixth consecutive loss.
In two victories against the Pacers this season, Harden scored 89
points. He added seven assists to go with his 44-point night.
A Harden 3-pointer with 6:16 remaining gave Houston a 94-82 lead,
and the Rockets never were threatened again. Houston made 13 of 24
shots from 3-point range, the ninth time this season an Indiana
opponent has made at least 12 treys. Forward Josh Smith added 18 for
Houston, and forward Donatas Motiejunas scored 17.
[to top of second column] |
Celtics 110, Nets 91
NEW YORK -- Reserve forward Kelly Olynyk scored seven of his 18
points early in the fourth quarter, and Boston snapped a four-game
losing streak with a victory over Brooklyn.
Olynyk was one of four Celtics who finished with at least 18 points,
but he made some of the biggest plays early in the final quarter
that allowed Boston to maintain control. He scored seven straight
points on a driving dunk, a 3-pointer and a tip-in that made it
96-80 with 8:19 remaining.
Coming off a 1-for-15 showing in losses to the San Antonio Spurs and
the Detroit Pistons that lowered his shooting percentage to 30.2
percent since his return from a sprained right ankle on March 4,
Olynyk made seven of 12 shots Monday and tied a career high with
three 3-pointers.
Point guard Avery Bradley led the way with 20 points for the
Celtics, who entered a half-game behind the eighth-place Charlotte
Hornets. Boston earned its third win in four meetings with Brooklyn
this season.
Timberwolves 106, Jazz 104 (OT)
SALT LAKE CITY -- Guard Zach LaVine scored 27 points and forward
Andrew Wiggins added 22 points to lead Minnesota to an overtime
victory over Utah.
Forward Chase Budinger scored 15 points off the bench. All but one
Minnesota player scored in double figures. The Timberwolves only
played seven players because of injuries.
Guard Joe Ingles scored a career-high 18 points, while forward
Derrick Favors and center Rudy Gobert each had double-doubles in
Utah's first overtime game of the season.
Favors tallied 19 points and collected 12 rebounds to lead the Jazz.
Gobert added 18 points, 17 rebounds and six blocked shots. Guard
Trey Burke chipped in 16 off the bench. It wasn't enough to stop
Utah from dropping its second straight home game.
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