MIAMI (AP) - Rasual Butler hit a game-tying 3-pointer with no time remaining in regulation, David West hit the game-winning jumper with 8.8 seconds left in overtime, and New Orleans stunned the Miami Heat 93-87 on Tuesday night.
Chris Paul finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Peja Stojakovic added 24 points for the Hornets (48-29), who not only clinched a postseason berth but stayed thickly in the hunt for home-court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Bobcats 101, 76ers 98
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Gerald Wallace scored 29 points, including the final four of the game, and Charlotte snapped a three-game losing streak.
Raymond Felton scored a career-high 32 points and the Bobcats recovered after blowing a 20-point lead to improve their faint playoff hopes.
Hawks 118, Raptors 110
TORONTO (AP) - Josh Smith had 25 points and seven rebounds, and Atlanta used 11-for-22 shooting from 3-point range to beat Toronto.
The Hawks, trying to secure the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, also got 25 points from Joe Johnson and 17 from Maurice Evans. Mike Bibby added 13 points and 10 assists, while Al Horford chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Chris Bosh had 21 points and 10 rebounds for his eighth consecutive double-double and 40th this season, but the Raptors lost their second in a row after winning six straight.
Spurs 99, Thunder 89
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Tim Duncan had 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Drew Gooden provided a needed lift off the bench for San Antonio in its first game since learning Manu Ginobili would miss the rest of the season.
Tony Parker added 21 points and 10 assists, while Gooden scored 20 points for his highest total since being picked up off waivers by the Spurs in early March.
Trail Blazers 96,
Grizzlies 93
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Travis Outlaw banked in a 14-footer with 13 seconds left to complete Portland's comeback from an 18-point second-quarter deficit.
Brandon Roy, who scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to key the Portland comeback, stole the ball from Memphis guard Mike Conley with 8 seconds left, then hit the ensuing two free throws to preserve the win.
Rockets 93, Magic 83
HOUSTON (AP) - Yao Ming had 20 points and 16 rebounds, outplaying Dwight Howard and leading Houston past Orlando.
Ron Artest had 16 points and matched a season high with seven assists, and reserve Von Wafer scored 14 points for the Rockets, who stayed a half-game behind San Antonio in the Southwest Division.
Bulls 110, Knicks 103
CHICAGO (AP) - Kirk Hinrich scored 25 points to lead five players in double figures for Chicago.
The Bulls used a 15-0 run in the fourth to erase the Knicks' small, but steady lead, and then outlasted a late New York comeback by hitting their free throws.
Lakers 122, Kings 104
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Pau Gasol scored 26 points, Kobe Bryant added 22 and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a sluggish start to beat the Sacramento Kings 122-104 Tuesday night and move within a half-game of Cleveland for the best record in the NBA.
Los Angeles fell behind by 12 points midway through the first quarter before finding its stride against the NBA's worst team and avenging a surprising loss earlier this season to the Kings at Arco Arena.
Posted in Sports on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 11:00 pm
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