Bucks diminish Houston's playoff hopes

Sam Cassell scored 20 points to help Milwaukee erase a 13-point deficit as the Bucks scored an important 106-99 win over the Houston Rockets in NBA action on Wednesday.

The Bucks moved two games ahead of Washington for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with the win.

Houston is now one-and-a-half games behind Phoenix for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Gary Payton and Toni Kukoc both scored 18 points for the Bucks, who scored 20 of their points on 22 Houston turnovers.

James Posey scored 20 points to lead the Rockets, but Houston still lost for the fourth time in five games. Steve Francis added 17 points.

Yao Ming had 15 points and six rebounds for the Rockets, but 12 of those points and four of the rebounds came in the first quarter.

Houston had a 33-20 lead in the second quarter, but the Bucks rallied to tie the game before the half before taking over in the second half.

76ers 108 Bulls 101

In Philadelphia, Allen Iverson scored 24 points and a had a season-high 12 assists as the 76ers edged the Chicago Bulls 108-101.

Kenny Thomas added 16 points and 14 rebounds for the 76ers, who have won three straight and are 20-5 since the All-Star break.

Jay Williams scored 23 points for the Bulls, while Donyell Marshall added 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Pacers 103 Cavaliers 82

In Cleveland, Al Harrington scored 24 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 103-82 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jonathan Bender added 21 points for Indiana, which was missing Jermaine O'Neal with a sprained right ankle.

Ron Artest was assessed a technical foul in the fourth quarter and was the object of irate fans after pushing Ricky Davis out of bounds.

Davis scored 27 points for the Cavaliers, losers of four straight.

Celtics 90 Heat 62

In Boston, Paul Pierce scored 28 points to lead the Celtics past the Miami Heat 90-62.

Antoine Walker added 11 points for the Celtics, winners of three straight. Tony Delk had 10 points.

Raptors 89 Pistons 78

In Auburn Hills, Vince Carter scored 18 points as the Toronto Raptors won the second of back-to-back games for the first time this season, downing the Detroit Pistons 89-78.

Jerome Williams had 11 points and 16 rebounds for Toronto, which lost to Detroit in Toronto Tuesday night.

The Raptors were 0-14 in the second game of back-to-backs before on Wednesday night.

Richard Hamilton and Chancey Billups both had 16 points for Detroit, while Ben Wallace added 13 points and 17 rebounds.

Timberwolves 91 SuperSonics 86

In Minneapolis, Troy Hudson scored 31 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves got past the Seattle SuperSonics 91-86.

Kevin Garnett added 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the T-Wolves, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Spurs 105 Grizzlies 87

In Memphis, Tim Duncan scored 33 points and grabbed 19 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs downed the Memphis Grizzlies 105-87.

Malik Rose added 18 points for the Spurs, who have won seven straight games.

Lorenzen Wright scored 24 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost five games in a row.

Kings 105 Wizards 99

In Washington, Chris Webber had 28 points, nine rebounds and six assists to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 105-99 win over the Wizards, dealing Washington's playoff hopes a blow.

Mike Bibby added 17 points.