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Mavericks tune up for the playoffs by beating Spurs

Despite it having little bearing on the NBA playoffs race, the Dallas Mavericks beat the San Antonio Spurs 91-86 in a tense, emotional game that saw bodies flying, emotions overheating and Tim Duncan getting ejected on Sunday.

The Spurs' loss -- which ended their six-game winning streak -- locks them into the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. They have only themselves to blame, going without a field goal for the last 6:32, missing nine straight shots and not scoring any points over the last 4:17.

Dirk Nowitzki and Devin Harris each scored 21 points in a game the Mavericks may have looking to use as their dress rehearsal for the playoffs.

They won for the 66th time this season, tying the 1970-71 record of the Milwaukee Bucks for ninth-best in league history and finishing 36-5 at home.

Warriors 121, Timberwolves 108

At Oakland, California, guard Jason Richardson had 32 points and 12 rebounds and surging Golden State took sole possession of eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a victory over Minnesota.

The Warriors did it with one eye on the out-of-town scoreboard, where they watched the Los Angeles Clippers fall out of their eighth-place tie with Golden State in a 105-100 loss to Sacramento.

Kings 105, Clippers 100

At Los Angeles, reserve swingman Francisco Garcia scored 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers down the stretch and Ron Artest had a career-high 10 assists to lead Sacramento.

Mike Bibby, one of six Sacramento players in double digits, scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half as the Kings dealt a severe blow to the Clippers' playoff hopes.

Artest had 15 points, including an 18-footer jumper with 36 seconds remaining after the Clippers had closed to 96-92 with a pair of 3-pointers by Tim Thomas 26 seconds apart.

Nets 111, Pacers 107

At Indianapolis, Vince Carter scored 35 points to help New Jersey and put Indiana on the brink of elimination from the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Bostjan Nachbar scored 25 points and shot 6-for-6 from 3-point range and Jason Kidd had 12 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Nets.

Bulls 101, Wizards 68

At Washington, Ben Gordon scored 30 points and Chicago limited depleted Washington to a season-low point total.

If Chicago, at 49-32, defeats New Jersey in its regular season finale tomorrow, it would give the franchise a 50-victory season for the first time since Michael Jordan and company went 62-20 en route to the 1997-98 NBA championship.

Magic 88, Celtics 86

At Orlando, Florida, Hedo Turkoglu blocked Delonte West's driving layup at the buzzer to help Orlando clinch its first playoff berth in four years with a win.

Orlando's win and Indiana's 111-107 loss against New Jersey combined to clinch the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs for Orlando.

Raptors 107, Knicks 105

At Toronto, Chris Bosh scored 23 points and Toronto earned home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a victory over New York.

Anthony Parker and Joey Graham each added 19 points for the Raptors, who won their season-high sixth straight game and will be the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Toronto matched its franchise record of 47 wins.

76ers 102, Pistons 91

At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Willie Green scored 26 points to lead Philadelphia.

The game was meaningless for both teams -- Detroit has clinched the Eastern Conference's top seed while Philadelphia was eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday -- and it showed.

Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons with 15 points, but the next five players in Detroit's usual rotation combined for only 24 points.

Lakers 109, SuperSonics 98

At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 50 points and Los Angeles beat Seattle to clinch a playoff berth.

The Lakers will finish seventh or eighth in the Western Conference and face either Dallas or Phoenix in the first round.

Bryant scored 50 or more for the 10th time this season.

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