The Philadelphia 76ers were brought back from their locker room to watch Devin Brown sink two free throws with 0.2 seconds left for the Cleveland Cavaliers to win 91-90 in the NBA on Monday.
The Sixers appeared to have won after Lou Williams hit a fadeaway jumper with 5.1 seconds left. Instead, Brown was fouled by Samuel Dalembert with only a couple of ticks left. The Sixers thought the game was over and ran off the court, while the refs huddled at midcourt to look at the replay. The Cavaliers stayed on the bench, with some peeking over and hoping to hear the decision.
After the play was reviewed for a few minutes, Dalembert was hit with his sixth foul. The Sixers had to come back and watch Brown stun them for the controversial win.
Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks argued with the refs and guard Andre Miller punted the ball in frustration.
LeBron James scored 27 points, Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 22 and the Cavaliers clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs against Washington.
In Washington, the home team's reserves easily eliminated Indiana from the playoff race, winning 117-110.
Roger Mason scored 31 points off the bench for Washington, whose reserves outscored the starters 70-47.
Indiana's defeat gave the idle Atlanta Hawks the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, their first time in the playoffs since 1999.
In New York, Rajon Rondo had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Boston in the absence of his three all-star teammates Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, who were rested. The Celtics won 99-93.
Sam Cassell added 22 points for the Celtics, who learned during the game they will face Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs.
In Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, pulling Utah even with Houston in the muddled Western Conference standings, winning 105-96.
Both teams are 54-27, but by winning two of three against the Rockets, the Jazz would hold home-court advantage if they still have identical records after Wednesday and meet in the opening round of the playoffs. Utah finished its home schedule 37-4.
Tracy McGrady and Luis Scola scored 22 each for Houston.
In Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire scored 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and Phoenix recovered after blowing a 17-point lead, beating Warriors 122-116 and eliminating the Warriors from playoff contention.
The Warriors' loss clinched the final playoff spot in the West for Denver.
In Sacramento, California, Tony Parker tied his season high with 32 points and added 11 assists as San Antonio downed Sacramento 101-98.
The victory, coupled with Houston's loss to Utah, put the Spurs in position to clinch third place in the conference for a second straight season. A year ago, they defeated Cleveland in the NBA finals.
(Agencies April 16, 2008)