Heat stay alive, beat on LeBron-less Cavs
Tyler Johnson scored 24 points, including the game’s final four from the foul line, and the Heat remained alive in the postseason chase by rallying to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 124-121, last night in Miami.
Hassan Whiteside scored 23 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for Miami, which would have been eliminated with a loss. Josh Richardson scored 19 points, James Johnson had 16 and Goran Dragic added 15.
Deron Williams had a season-high 35 points, along with nine assists and seven rebounds for the Cavaliers, who fell to 0-7 this season when LeBron James doesn’t play.
The Cavs were also without Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, and fell a game behind the Celtics in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Kevin Love scored 25 points, Channing Frye 21 and Kyle Korver added 18.
No. 7 Indiana and No. 8 Chicago both won earlier, and would have clinched playoff trips with a Heat loss. Instead, it’s on to Game No. 82 tomorrow night to decide it all.
Bulls 122, Magic 75 — Emergency starter Jerian Grant had 17 points and a career-high 11 assists, and host Chicago routed Orlando to move closer to a postseason berth.
The Bulls led by as many as 47 points in their largest margin of victory this season. They would have clinched a playoff berth with a Miami loss to Cleveland, but the Heat’s rally means Chicago will have until its final regularseason game, hosting the Brooklyn Nets tomorrow.
Chicago and Miami remained one game behind No. 7 Indiana after the Pacers beat the 76ers in Philadelphia. The Bulls (40-41) would claim a three-way tie if the teams finish with the same record.
Pacers 120, 76ers 111 — Paul George scored 17 of his 27 points in the opening quarter and Indiana inched closer to clinching a berth in the playoffs by beating host Philadelphia.
Thaddeus Young added 20 points, Myles Turner scored 18 and Kevin Seraphin had 17 to give the Pacers their fourth straight victory and push them one win away from a playoff spot for the sixth time in the past seven years.
The 76ers lost for the seventh straight time and will finish their fifth straight season out of the playoffs. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot paced the Sixers with 24 points and Richaun Holmes had 17 points.
Bucks 89, Hornets 79 — Tony Snell scored 16 points, Jason Terry had season highs of 15 points and five 3-pointers, and host Milwaukee beat Charlotte.
Center Greg Monroe provided punch in the paint with 16 points and nine rebounds for the Bucks, who clinched at least the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with the win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo picked up his third tripledouble of the season with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Wizards 105, Pistons 101 — In Auburn Hills, Mich., Bradley Beal scored 33 points and Washington beat Detroit in the final game at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
The highlight of the night for Detroit fans was a halftime ceremony that honored the top players from the three championship teams, with Isiah Thomas and Dennis Rodman posing for pictures with Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups.
Trail Blazers 99, Spurs 98 — Noah Vonleh made a layup at the buzzer and host Portland beat San Antonio despite resting starters Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
Jazz 105, Warriors 99 — In Oakland, Calif., Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 18 rebounds, Joe Johnson added a key 3-pointer with 80 seconds remaining and Utah snapped Golden State’s 14game winning streak.
Clippers 125, Rockets 96 — Chris Paul scored 19 points, Blake Griffin added 18 and host Los Angeles routed Houston to remain tied with Utah in the race for the No. 4 playoff seed.