The Orlando Magic's bid for the No. 2 seed in the NBA's Eastern Conference was ended by a 103-93 loss to the New Jersey Nets yesterday.
The Magic may have lost more than the No. 2 seed. Star forward Hedo Turkoglu hurt his left ankle with 6:51 left in the game and he had to be helped to the locker room. There was no immediate word on his condition.
Vince Carter had 27 points and nine assists for the Nets, who played without All-Star guard Devin Harris (shoulder).
Warriors 118, Jazz 108
In Salt Lake City, C.J. Watson scored a career-high 38 points as an undermanned Golden State downed Utah.
Robert Kurz also had a career best with 21 points, and Golden State won despite only being able to use seven players.
Watson made all 16 foul shots and had nine assists and seven rebounds.
Golden State led by as much as 17 and never let the playoff-bound Jazz get closer than five.
Bulls 113, Bobcats 106
In Chicago, the hosts notched a fourth straight win, beating Charlotte to reach .500 for the first time in five months.
Ben Gordon scored 39 points and John Salmons finished with 19 for the Bulls, who moved a game ahead of Detroit with two to play heading into Monday's meeting at Detroit.
Chicago also pulled within a half-game of sixth-place Philadelphia with their 14th win in 15 home games.
The Bobcats were in it most of the way, before the Bulls pulled away with a late surge by Gordon and Salmons.
Pacers 106, Pistons 102
In Indianapolis, Indiana stalled Detroit's bid for a higher playoff seed.
Indiana led by 12 early in the final quarter, but Detroit rallied and took a 102-101 lead with 56 seconds to go. The Pacers went back in front on a spinning layup and iced the game with one free throw, then another two foul shots.
Danny Granger scored 24 points to lead the Pacers.
Trail Blazers 87, Clippers 72
In Los Angeles, Portland beat Los Angeles to tie for third place in the Western Conference.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points and Joel Przybilla added 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Portland tied Houston for the No. 3 seed with its fourth straight victory. The Trail Blazers also pulled within a game of Northwest Division leader Denver, which is second in the West.
The Clippers have lost seven of their past eight.
Suns 110, Timberwolves 97
In Minneapolis, Grant Hill scored 19 points in 23 minutes to lead Phoenix over Minnesota.
Hill was 7-for-8 from the floor and played as if this game actually mattered, even though the Suns had already been eliminated from playoff calculations, missing the postseason for the first time in five years.
Bucks 115, Thunder 98
In Milwaukee, the hosts snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Oklahoma City.
Richard Jefferson tied a season high with 35 points for the Bucks, who have long been eliminated from the postseason race but will finish with a winning record at home (21-19) with one game to come.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily April 13, 2009)
