SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, April 18
New Orleans at L.A. Clippers (10:30 p.m. EDT). The Clippers are in competition with Golden State for the last playoff spot in the West.
STARS
Monday
– Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, Rockets. McGrady scored 39 points and Yao had 34 to help Houston wrap up home-court in the first round of the playoffs with a 120-117 win over Phoenix.
– Vince Carter, Nets, had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in New Jersey’s 104-95 win over New York.
– Mo Williams, Bucks, scored 26 points and Milwaukee beat Atlanta 102-96.
– Linas Kleiza, Nuggets, had 23 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double in Denver’s 122-107 win over Minnesota.
HOME SWEET GARDEN
New Jersey won its sixth straight at Madison Square Garden, beating New York 104-95 Monday night for its 10th win in the last 11 meetings against the Nets’ rivals across the Hudson River. New Jersey has won 22 of the last 26 in the series, including two victories in the last four nights.
STREAKS
Houston won its fifth straight by beating Phoenix 120-117 Monday night. The Rockets also snapped a six-game losing streak against the Suns.
IT STILL COUNTS
Pau Gasol scored 25 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and had six assists to lead the Grizzlies to a 101-91 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. The Grizzlies, who also defeated the playoff-bound Denver Nuggets on Saturday night, have won two straight, matching their longest winning streak of the season.
SPEAKING
“I don’t know who got the group together. I don’t know who organized the group. I just heard them and knew where they were at. I wanted to play good for them.” – Linas Kleiza on an organized cheering section of fans wearing Lithuanian colors that cheered him on to his first career double-double in Denver’s 122-107 win over Minnesota on Monday night.