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Dirk Nowitzki lead Mavs to playoffs

Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points, going 14-for-14 from the foul line, and former Philadelphia player Keith Van Horn added 15 points to help the Dallas Mavericks clinch a playoff spot with a 100-83 victory over the 76ers on Friday night.

The Mavericks, fourth in the Western Conference, won their fourth straight game to improve to 7-1 since Avery Johnson replaced Don Nelson as head coach on March 19.

"I haven't been around a playoff team, so I'm getting to learn what it's all about," said Jason Terry, who will make his first career playoff appearance after spending his first five seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. "It's huge for my career. I want to get out on a pedestal and show the world what I can do."

Allen Iverson scored 22 points for the 76ers before sitting out the fourth quarter because of a strained groin. Marc Jackson also had 22 points for Philadelphia.

Celtics 116, Hawks 100

In Atlanta, Ricky Davis scored a season-high 36 points, including 20 in the second period, and Boston beat Atlanta to end a four-game losing streak.

The Celtics shot 69 percent from the field in the first half and 60 percent overall. Josh Childress led Atlanta with a career-high 26 points. The Hawks have lost 11 straight and 24 of their last 25 games.

Wizards 111, Magic 102

In Orlando, Florida, Gilbert Arenas scored 31 points, and Larry Hughes added 30 and Washington withstood a furious fourth-quarter rally to beat Orlando.

Rookie Dwight Howard led the Magic with 22 points, 12 in the final period. Steve Francis added 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Raptors 119, Bobcats 107

In Charlotte, North Carolina, Chris Bosh scored 27 points and Jalen Rose had 23 to help Toronto down Charlotte and snap a two-game losing streak.

Donyell Marshall added 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Rafer Alston also had 18 points for the Raptors. Emeka Okafor had 29 points and 14 rebounds -- his 39th double-double -- for the expansion Bobcats.

Pistons 97, Clippers 84

In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points to help defending NBA champion Detroit defeat the Los Angeles Clippers to clinch a playoff spot in Larry Brown's return.

Brown was back on the bench after missing 10 games because of complications from surgery in early March related to his hip surgery in November. Detroit went 6-4 with Gar Heard directing the team in place of Brown.

Richard Hamilton added 14 points and a season-high 11 assists for Detroit. Marco Jaric led Los Angeles with 24 points.

Nets 93, Knicks 91

In New York, Vince Carter scored 31 points and New Jersey edged New York to move within a half-game of eighth place in the Eastern Conference -- the cutoff for a postseason berth.

Winning for the eighth time in 10 games, New Jersey passed Orlando in the standings and moved a game closer to Philadelphia as both the Magic and 76ers lost.

Jason Kidd added 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Nets.

Stephon Marbury led New York with 26 points, and Jamal Crawford had 23.

Kings 128, Cavaliers 109

In Cleveland, Peja Stojakovic, Cuttino Mobley and Mike Bibby each scored 22 points in the King's highest-scoring game of the season.

Kenny Thomas added 18 points, and Corliss Williamson had 17 to help the Kings beat the Cavaliers for the ninth straight time.

LeBron James had 35 points for Cleveland.

Hornets 76, Rockets 73

In Houston, Lee Nailon scored 16 points and fellow reserve Dan Dickau added 14, helping New Orleans rally from an 18-point second-half deficit to beat Houston.

P.J. Brown scored 13 points and Chris Andersen had 16 rebounds and nine points to lead an improbable fourth-quarter comeback by the Hornets' reserves, who feasted under the basket against an undersized Houston team that was missing center Yao Ming.

Ming sat out with a sore right calf. Tracy McGrady led the Rockets with 21 points.

SuperSonics 89, Trail Blazers 87

In Seattle, Ray Allen scored 19 points, and Damien Wilkins added 17 for Seattle in place of injured All-Star Rashard Lewis.

Portland's Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, but missed a 6-footer with 4.9 seconds to go in the Blazers' ninth straight road loss.

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