SCOREBOARD
Saturday, April 14
Orlando at Philadelphia (3 p.m. EDT). The 76ers need a win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive as the Magic hold a three-game lead with four games left for the final spot in the Eastern Conference.
STARS
Friday
-Carlos Boozer, Jazz, had 32 points and 15 rebounds to help Utah beat Dallas 104-89.
-Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets, scored 31 points in Denver’s 107-105 win over New Orleans.
-Stephen Jackson and Baron Davis, Warriors. Jackson scored 26 points and Davis had 25 in Golden State’s 125-108 win over Sacramento.
CLOSING IN
Chicago tightened its grip on the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating Charlotte 100-81 Friday night. The win was the Bulls’ ninth in 11 games, and with two more left in the regular season, their odds of securing the No. 2 seed look good. They moved a half-game ahead of fifth-place Cleveland and maintained a 1 1/2-game lead over third-place Toronto, which beat Detroit. Chicago owns the tiebreaker over both the Cavaliers and Raptors.
THAT’S ALL
The New Orleans Hornets lost their final game in their temporary home, 107-105 in Oklahoma City. The night started with a rousing pregame, in which Hornets starters came to the court through the stands and commissioner David Stern proclaimed that he looked forward to the NBA’s return to Oklahoma City
STOMPING GROUNDS
Toronto is one win or a Miami loss from clinching a home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs after beating Detroit 87-84 on Friday night.
ON A ROLL
The Los Angeles Clippers breezed to a 107-89 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night for their ninth win in 13 games. The Clippers are tied with Golden State for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference with three games remaining.
SIX AND COUNTING
San Antonio defeated Minnesota 110-91 Friday night for the Spurs’ sixth straight win.
SPEAKING
“Here in Oklahoma City, the time that we’ve had has been unbelievable. It’s been a great ride and I think everyone’s enjoyed it. I don’t know if the fans are saying `Goodbye’ or `See you later.”’ – Hornets coach Byron Scott after his team’s final game in Oklahoma City on Friday night.
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“I probably (would have played), but since we were in the hunt for a high draft pick, of course things are different. I understand that. Hopefully things get better. Now that we clinched at least having the second-most balls in the lottery, the last three games we’ll see what happens. We’ll see if we can go out and finish some games.” – Boston’s Ryan Gomes, who had 13 points through three quarters, but watched from the bench in the fourth as Boston clinched the worst record in the Eastern Conference and second worst in the league by losing to Milwaukee 104-102 Friday night.