NBA Roundup: Philadelphia locks up playoff spot
Orlando, Fla. ? The Philadelphia 76ers enjoyed a great March, and it put them in the playoffs.
Allen Iverson scored 14 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the 76ers clinched their fifth straight playoff berth by beating the Orlando Magic, 118-113, Monday night.
“It’s such a huge win for us,” Philadelphia coach Larry Brown said. “It caps off a big month for us where we had 12 road games and four home games and ended up going 11-5, which is pretty special.”
The 76ers won for the fourth time in five games, and for the fourth straight time on the road, to move a game ahead of idle Indiana for third place in the East. Philadelphia also kept pace 11¼2 games behind New Jersey for the Atlantic Division lead. The Nets beat Houston 110-86 Monday.
Kenny Thomas had 24 points and 20 rebounds for his fifth double-double in the last six games, while Derrick Coleman added 18 points and 13 rebounds. Philadelphia had a 61-38 advantage on the boards, including a 24-12 margin in the final quarter and overtime.
“The Magic spread out and have a lot of people on the perimeter, so if they miss you should have a good chance to get the rebound,” Brown said.
That’s exactly what happened, as Orlando shot 29 percent (8-for-28) on three-pointers.
For Orlando, Tracy McGrady had 39 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and Steven Hunter came off the bench for a season-high 15 points, plus seven rebounds and five blocks– both career bests.
Gordan Giricek scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half for Orlando, while reserves Darrell Armstrong and Pat Garrity both added 13 points. The Magic bench had a 44-8 edge over Philadelphia’s.
Orlando’s primary centers, Shawn Kemp and Andrew DeClercq, combined for two points and one rebound in 19 minutes.
“I love our big men to death, but we’ve got to do something,” McGrady said. “We can’t allow a team to outrebound us by 23.”
Nets 110, Rockets 86
East Rutherford, N.J. — Richard Jefferson had 30 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his first career triple-double, and as New Jersey won its fourth in a row.
Jefferson, selected the NBA’s player of the week earlier in the day, led the team in scoring for the third consecutive game as the Nets overcame the absence of Kenyon Martin (sprained knee) and avenged one of their most embarrassing losses of the season.
Jason Kidd had 30 points and 12 rebounds for New Jersey.
Bucks 91, Heat 86
Miami — Sam Cassell and Gary Payton each scored 20 points and Milwaukee closed with a 17-6 run over the final 41¼2 minutes. The win gives the Bucks a one-game lead over Washington for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Cassell scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter. Reserve Eddie House scored a season-high 21 points for the Heat. Brian Grant scored 15 points and had 17 rebounds, and rookie Rasual Butler added 15 points.
Lakers 110, Grizzlies 94
Los Angeles — Shaquille O’Neal had 34 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, and Kobe Bryant added 29 points for Los Angeles.
The win was the eighth in 11 games for the three-time defending NBA champions, who rebounded from an ugly 119-98 loss at Seattle the night before.