SAN ANTONIO – Michael Finley hit a 3-pointer as time expired to force overtime, and Tim Duncan scored six of his 20 points in the extra period to lead San Antonio to a division-clinching 105-98 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night.
Coupled with a Houston loss to Dallas, the Spurs clinched the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. The Hornets fell to the seventh seed after leading by five with 47.6 seconds left.
Mavericks 95, Rockets 84: In Dallas, Jason Kidd notched a triple-double and ex-UA Wildcat Jason Terry was superb in the fourth quarter, powering Dallas to a victory that started the dominoes tumbling in the Western Conference playoff chase.
Dallas will be the No. 6 seed and play the Spurs in the playoffs. The Rockets will be the fifth seed after blowing a 14-point lead, ending a five-game winning streak.Terry scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter.
Trail Blazers 104, Nuggets 76: In Portland, Ore., Travis Outlaw scored 21 points for the Trail Blazers as they clinched home-court advantage in the first round. Portland, which hasn’t been to the postseason since 2002-03, will face the Rockets as the No. 4 seed in the West.
76ers 111, Cavaliers 110, OT: In Cleveland, LeBron James and other regulars rested for the playoffs as the Cavs lost for just the second time on their home floor this season. That left the Cavs at 39 home wins, one shy of tying the 1985-86 Boston Celtics’ all-time home record of 40-1.
The No. 6 Sixers will meet Orlando and Cleveland will play Detroit in the first round.
Raptors 109, Bulls 98: In Chicago, Shawn Marion scored a season-high 34 points, and 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 Boston.
Celtics 115, Wizards 107: In Boston, Eddie House sank five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and Boston beat Washington without its three top players. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen rested and Kevin Garnett missed his 22nd game in 26 with a sprained right knee.
Magic 98, Bobcats 73: In Orlando, Fla., Tony Battie had 21 points to lead Orlando. The third-seeded Magic will face Philadelphia in the first round.
Heat 102, Pistons 96: In Miami, Chris Quinn made a 3-pointer late in overtime to give Miami the lead, and Dwyane Wade wrapped the NBA scoring title while sitting out in Miami’s victory with a 30.2 average to James’ 28.4. No. 5 Miami will start the playoffs at No. 4 Atlanta.
Grizzlies 98, Hawks 90: In Memphis, Tenn., O.J. Mayo scored 26 points to lead Memphis over mostly Atlanta’s subs.
Pacers 115, Bucks 108: In Indianapolis, Danny Granger scored 35 points to lead Indiana.
Kings 97, Timberwolves 90: In Minneapolis, ex-ASU star Ike Diogu had 28 points to lead Sacramento (17-65), which had the NBA’s worst record.
Knicks 102, Nets 73: In New York, David Lee had 12 points and 12 rebounds for his NBA-best 65th double-double. The Knicks finished coach Mike D’Antoni’s first season with a 32-50 record, failing to make the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
Thunder 126, Clippers 85: In Los Angeles, Kevin Durant had 26 points to lead Oklahoma City.