Danny Granger scored 25 points on Wednesday to help the Indiana Pacers clinch their first NBA playoff berth since 2006 with a 136-112 victory over Washington.
The Pacers needed a victory and a loss by the Charlotte Bobcats to the Orlando Magic to secure their postseason spot.
As Indiana’s game ended, the Orlando-Charlotte game was in overtime, and staff at the Pacers’ Conseco Fieldhouse put the game on the Jumbotron scoreboard.
Photo: Reuters
Many fans stayed to cheer Orlando’s 111-102 victory.
Paul George scored a career-high 23 points and Darren Collison added 15 points and 11 assists for the Pacers, whose 136 points were their second-highest total of the season.
The Pacers shot 60 percent from the field and the Wizards allowed the most points they have in a game this season.
“I’m just really, really happy for a lot of people,” Pacers interim coach Frank Vogel said. “I’m so happy for our fans. It’s going to be a fun ride.”
Vogel had always talked as if he was sure his team would claim one of the Eastern Conference’s eight playoff spots.
When they became the eighth team in, Granger said Vogel deserved much of the credit.
“It’s a credit to Frank and his staff,” Granger said. “Granted, we still have some problems, and we had some problems along the way, but with the time they had to rehaul the team and do things differently, I think they did a great job.”
There’s a good chance the -Pacers will end up facing Chicago in the first round of the playoffs.
The Bulls were to host Boston yesterday in a game that could have a big impact on the race for the top seed in the East.
“I think it’s going to be a zoo in here on Thursday,” Chicago’s Joakim Noah said. “It’s very exciting.”
Chicago are three games ahead of Boston atop the conference with Miami also chasing.
BUCKS 90, HEAT 85
John Salmons scored 17 points, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute added 14 points and 12 rebounds as the already-eliminated Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 90-85 on Wednesday.
The loss knocked Miami (54-24) a half-game back of Boston in the race for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Carlos Delfino’s three-pointer with 24 seconds left helped seal it for the Bucks, who got 14 points from Corey Maggette. Milwaukee was eliminated from playoff contention during the game, thanks to Indiana’s win over Washington.
LeBron James scored 29 points for Miami, which played without injured guard Dwyane Wade, the NBA’s No. 3 scorer.
THUNDER 112, CLIPPERS 108
In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Kevin Durant scored 29 points and Russell Westbrook added 26 as the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the Northwest Division title.
The Thunder won the first division crown for the franchise since 2005, when they were known as the Seattle SuperSonics, but only after fending off a late charge from the Clippers.
Blake Griffin had 35 points and 11 rebounds in the second visit to his hometown in his NBA career, but he missed a key foul shot that helped put the game away for Oklahoma City.
HORNETS 101, ROCKETS 93
In New Orleans, Louisiana, Chris Paul had 28 points and 10 assists as New Orleans clinched a playoff spot.
Trevor Ariza, acquired by the Hornets from Houston in an offseason trade, scored 19 for a second straight game and equaled a season high with six steals.
Jarrett Jack added 19 points, while seventh-year pro Emeka Okafor, who’s never been to the playoffs, added 11 points to help rookie coach Monty Williams get there with a far shorter wait.
Kevin Martin scored 21 for Houston, which is now on the brink of elimination.
WARRIORS 95, LAKERS 87
In Oakland, California, Monta Ellis scored 26 points, and David Lee had 22 points and 17 rebounds as the Golden State Warriors held on to beat Los Angeles.
Stephen Curry added 20 points, six rebounds and five assists to help the Warriors build a 19-point lead in their third straight victory.
Kobe Bryant had 25 points and Pau Gasol scored 18 for the Lakers, who lost for the second consecutive night to an inferior opponent.
NUGGETS 104, MAVERICKS 96
In Dallas, J.R. Smith broke a tie in the final minutes with a layup and immediately followed with a jump shot, lifting Denver past Dallas.
Smith scored 23 points and -Kenyon Martin added 18 as the Nuggets won for the seventh time in eight games.
Playing without Jason Kidd or Tyson Chandler, the Mavericks lost their fourth straight, and ninth in a row against Western Conference playoff teams.
MAGIC 111, BOBCATS 102
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Gilbert Arenas scored 25 points as Orlando overcame Quentin Richardson’s ejection and Dwight Howard’s 18th technical foul to eliminate Charlotte from playoff contention.
Jameer Nelson atoned for two turnovers in the closing seconds of regulation by hitting a jumper and banking in a three-pointer in Orlando’s 12-2 run to open the extra period. Brandon Bass added 19 points for the Magic, who secured their fourth consecutive 50-win season.
Gerald Henderson scored a career-high 32 points for the Bobcats.
KNICKS 97, 76ERS 92
In Philadelphia, Carmelo Anthony had 31 points and 11 rebounds and Amare Stoudemire scored 18 points as New York moved into sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Toney Douglas bailed out the Knicks after they blew a 19-point lead and trailed by one late in the fourth.
Andre Iguodala pulled the Sixers within one with his first three-pointer of the game. Anthony delivered with a big-time three-pointer and pounded his chest in celebration with a 95-91 lead.
In other NBA action, it was:
‧ Spurs 124, Kings 92
‧ Cavaliers 104, Raptors 96
‧ Pistons 116, Nets 109
‧ Suns 108, Timberwolves 98
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