Thunder dent Suns playoff bid
Phoenix — Oklahoma City’s James Harden scored a career-high 40 points, including making 5 of 8 3-pointers, to lead the Thunder to a 109-97 win over Phoenix on Wednesday that dealt a blow to the Suns’ playoff hopes.
Kevin Durant added 29 points for the Thunder, who stayed half a game behind San Antonio in the fight for the top playoff seed in the Western Conference.
Phoenix’s loss, coupled with Utah’s’ victory over Portland, moved the Jazz half a game above of the Suns for the West’s eighth and final playoff spot.
Jared Dudley scored 21 points for Phoenix.
Celtics 102,
Magic 98
In Boston, Paul Pierce had 29 points and a career-high 14 assists as Boston held off Orlando and clinched at least a tie for the NBA Atlantic Division title.
Boston has a 3-1/2-game lead over New York. The Celtics have three games left, and the Knicks have four.
Division winners are guaranteed to be seeded no worse than fourth in the conference and would avoid Chicago or Miami in the first round of playoffs.
The Magic cut a 91-78 lead to 91-90 with 3:04 left. But they came no closer.
Clippers 104, Nuggets 98
In Denver, Kenyon Martin helped beat his old team with a tip-in and blocked shot in the final half-minute, leading Los Angeles psat Denver.
Martin tipped in Chris Paul’s missed jumper with 27 seconds left and the game tied, then blocked at the other end with 20 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Paul made two free throws to make it a four-point game.
The Nuggets got back within two with 16 seconds remaining, but Mo Williams replied with two free throws and Paul, who led the Clippers with 21 points, capped the game with an uncontested dunk.
Mavs 117,
Rockets 110
In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, steering Dallas to a win over Houston, whose playoff ambitions took another hit.
Nowitzki sank two 3-pointers to trigger a 20-6 run that took the game away from the visitors.
Heat 96,
Raptors 72
In Maiami, LeBron James scored 28 points before taking the fourth quarter off as a below-strenth Miami warmed up for the playoffs with an easy win over Toronto.
James made 12 of his 15 shots for Miami, which also got 13 points from Mike Miller. The Heat played without Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, both given the night off, yet still pulled away in the second half. OTHER RESULTS: Spurs 127, Kings 102; Jazz 112, Trail Blazers 91; Hawks 116, Pistons 84; Grizzlies 103, Hornets 91; Knicks 104, Nets 95; Bulls 100, Bobcats 68; 76ers 103, Cavs 87; Wizards 121, Bucks 112. /ap
