Bulls zero in on overall No. 1 spot
Indianapolis — The Chicago Bulls inched closer to claiming the top overall seed in the NBA playoffs by beating the Indiana Pacers 92-87 on Wednesday.
Kyle Korver scored 20 points and Carlos Boozer added 16 for the Bulls, who need just a win over Cleveland on Thursday or a loss by the San Antonio Spurs to clinch the league’s top spot.
Lance Stephenson scored 22 points in his first career start for Indiana, which rested Danny Granger and Leandro Barbosa with the No. 3 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference locked up.
Nuggets 106, Thunder 101
In Oklahoma City, Denver is guaranteed to finish higher than No.8 in the Western Conference after beating Oklahoma City.
Ty Lawson scored 25 points and Kenneth Faried added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who will be No.6 if they win at Minnesota on Thursday and therefore face the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of playoffs, or No.7 and take on the Thunder.
Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant scored 32 points to extend his lead in the NBA scoring race, leaving Kobe Bryant in need of 38 points in his season finale Thursday to prevent Durant from becoming the seventh player to win three straight scoring titles.
Spurs 110, Suns 106
In Phoenix, San Antonio stayed tied with Chicago for the NBA’s best record with one game to play by beating Phoenix.
Patty Mills scored 27 points for the Spurs who won despite resting Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, taking their ninth straight victory. San Antonio must win at Golden State on Thursday and rely on Chicago losing, otherwise the Bulls will claim the tiebreaker.
The result of the game was overshadowed by the fact it could have been Steve Nash’s last in a Suns uniform. The 38-year-old point guard received rousing cheers. He is a free agent after this season.
Knicks 99, Clippers 93
In New York, the hosts closed in on the No.7 seed in the Eastern Conference by downing Los Angeles.
J.R. Smith scored 21 points and Carmelo Anthony scored 17 points for the Knicks, who need only beat lowly Charlotte or have Philadelphia lose in their respective last games to move up to No.7 and face Miami in the first playoff round. If the Knicks lose and the Sixers win, New York will be No.8 and take on Chicago.
The loss dropped the Clippers a half-game behind Memphis for the No. 4 seed in the West. Los Angeles needs the Grizzlies to lose to Orlando on Thursday to open the playoffs at home.
OTHER RESULTS: 76ers 90, Bucks 85; Magic 102, Bobcats 95;Wizards 96, Cavs 85. /ap
