NBA Today - April 19
Thu, Apr 19, 2007
By Associated Press
No games scheduled. The playoffs begin Saturday.
STARS
Wednesday
- Baron Davis, Warriors, had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists to lead Golden State into the playoffs with a 120-98 win over Portland.
- LeBron James, Cavaliers, scored 24 points to send Cleveland to a 109-96 win over Milwaukee, helping secure the No. 2 seed for the Cavs.
- Kobe Bryant, Lakers, scored 34 points to lead Los Angeles to the seventh seed in the West with a 117-104 victory over Sacramento.
THEY'RE IN!
Golden State is going to the playoffs for the first time since 1994 after beating Portland 120-98 Wednesday night. The Warriors won nine of 10 down the stretch to make it to the postseason.
THEY'RE OUT
The Los Angeles Clippers were eliminated from playoff contention before the final buzzer of their 86-83 loss to New Orleans because Golden State had wrapped up the last playoff spot earlier Wednesday night. Rasual Butler hit a tie-breaking jumper with 1.5 seconds remaining to send the Clippers into the off-season with a bitter loss.
TUM-BULL
New Jersey cost Chicago the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference by beating them 106-97 Wednesday night. Chicago fell all the way to the fifth spot, and will open against defending NBA champion Miami.
D IS FOR DEFENSE
Dallas held Seattle to its second-lowest point total of the season in a 106-75 victory over the SuperSonics Wednesday night.
JUST A BIT OUTSIDE
Minnesota entered Wednesday night tied with New York and Portland for the sixth-worst record in the league. If the Timberwolves didn't earn a top-10 pick in the NBA draft lottery, they would have had to give it to the Clippers as part of the Sam Cassell-Marko Jaric trade two years ago. Minnesota lost 116-94 to Memphis.
IT'S OVER
Boston lost to Detroit 91-89 Wednesday night, finishing the season 25-58 for the Celtics' worst record since going a franchise-worst 15-67 in 1996-97.
SPEAKING
''I definitely don't want the season to be over now. It really hurts, it really burns.'' - Clippers star Elton Brand after Los Angeles missed the playoffs Wednesday night on the last day of the season.