Michael Finley forced overtime with a three-pointer as time expired, then Tim Duncan dominated to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a division-clinching 105-98 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.
Coupled with Houston’s loss to Dallas, the Spurs clinched the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. The Hornets fell to the seventh seed.
New Orleans led by five points with 47.6 seconds left in the fourth period, but missed free throws gave the Spurs a chance.
PHOTO: EPA
Finley took advantage, draining a three-pointer as the clock ran down to zero.
MAVERICKS 95, ROCKETS 84
In Dallas, Jason Kidd notched a triple-double and Jason Terry was superb in the fourth quarter, powering Dallas to a victory over Houston that started the dominoes tumbling in the Western Conference playoff chase.
Dallas will be the No. 6 seeds and will play the Spurs in the playoffs.
The Rockets will be fifth and open at Portland.
Kidd had 11 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Terry scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter.
Yao Ming scored 23 points for Houston — none in the fourth quarter.76ERS 111, CAVALIERS 110, OT
In Cleveland, Ohio, the Cavaliers lost for just the second time on their home floor this season as star player LeBron James and other regulars rested for the playoffs.
Cleveland finished the regular season with 39 home wins — one short of tying the 1985-1986 Boston Celtics’ all-time home record of 40-1.
Andre Miller scored 30 points and Andre Iguodala 24 for Philadelphia, who earned the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they will meet the Orlando Magic.
Daniel Gibson scored 28 for the Cavaliers, the No. 1 overall seeds. Cleveland will play Detroit in the first round of the playoffs.
RAPTORS 109, BULLS 98
In Chicago, Shawn Marion scored a season-high 34 points and Chris Bosh set one with 19 rebounds while scoring 21, as Toronto ended Chicago’s five-game winning streak.
The Bulls wound up with the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round matchup with defending champions Boston.
Derrick Rose finished with 20 points and 11 assists, while Ben Gordon scored 23.CELTICS 115, WIZARDS 107
In Boston, Eddie House sank five three-pointers in the fourth quarter as Boston beat Washington without their three top players.
Caron Butler scored a season-high 39 points, but couldn’t keep the Wizards from matching their worst record for an 82-game season, 19-63, last in the Eastern Conference.
House had 20 points and set a single-season club record with a 44.4 percentage on three-pointers.
MAGIC 98, BOBCATS 73
In Orlando, Florida, Tony Battie had 21 points and Mickael Pietrus scored 19, as Orlando tuned up for the playoffs with a victory over Charlotte.
Dwight Howard had 10 points and 12 rebounds in limited minutes to help Orlando snap their season-longest three-game losing streak. The third-seeded Magic will face Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.
Raymond Felton had 13 points and Nazr Mohammed added 12 for the Bobcats (35-47), who finished with the best record in franchise history.
Wednesday’s other results in the NBA:
• Heat 102, Pistons 96
• Grizzlies 98, Hawks 90
• Pacers 115, Bucks 108
• Kings 97, Timberwolves 90
• Knicks 102, Nets 73
• Trail Blazers 104, Nuggets 76
• Suns 117, Warriors 113
• Thunder 126, Clippers 85
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