Heat turn back 76ers to clinch playoff seat
Miami — Miami’s LeBron James scored a season-high 41 points as the Heat clinched an NBA playoff berth with a 99-93 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.
James scored 14 straight Miami points in the fourth quarter, helping the Heat finish off a four-game season sweep of Philadelphia and extend their home-court winning streak to 16 games.
Mario Chalmers added 19 for the hosts who won despite Dwyane Wade sitting out with a bruised knee. The Heat are 9-1 this season when Wade has not played.
Evan Turner scored 26 points for Philadelphia, which fell 1-1/2 games behind Boston in the Atlantic Division.
Pacers 112,
Knicks 104
In Indianapolis, the hosts came from 17 points down in the second half to overrun New York.
Danny Granger scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Pacers outscored the Knicks 40-17 in the final 12 minutes.
Paul George scored 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.
Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 39 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who are in a close fight for a playoff spot while missing Amare Stoudemire (back) and Jeremy Lin (knee).
Spurs 125, Cavs 90
In Cleveland, San Antonio coasted to its eighth straight win by smashing Cleveland.
Danny Green scored 19 points against the team that released him last season, while Tony Parker added 19 for the Spurs, who built a 22-point lead in the first half and rested Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili for most of the fourth quarter.
Rookie Kyrie Irving scored 13 points for the Cavs in his return after missing a game with a sprained right shoulder.
Lakers 91, Nets 87
In Los Angeles, the home team blew a 17-point lead before recovering to beat New Jersey.
Kobe Bryant scored 24 points and rattled home a 3-pointer with 6.8 seconds left that helped salvage victory.
Pau Gasol had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers who led by 12 early in the fourth quarter, only for but Deron Williams to lead an 18-6 run for New Jersey, tying it with a 3-pointer with 1:29 left. OTHER RESULTS: Pistons 102, Magic 95; Grizzlies 98, Warriors 94; Suns 109, Kings 100; Raptors 92, Bobcats 87. /ap
