(The Sports Xchange) – C.J. Miles scored a career-high-tying 30 points as the Indiana Pacers stayed alive in the Eastern Conference playoff chase with a 116-104 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Russell Westbrook scored a career-best 54 points, on 43 shots, but was whistled for his 16th technical foul of the season.
Indiana (37-43) earned their fifth consecutive victory and moved into a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East with the Nets (37-43), though Brooklyn owns the tie-breaker between the teams.
Oklahoma City (43-37) and New Orleans (43-37) remain tied for the last Western Conference playoff berth, with the Pelicans owning the tie-breaker.
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Rockets 121, Pelicans 114
James Harden scored 26 of his 30 points in the middle two periods while Corey Brewer scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to help the Houston Rockets rally for a critical victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Brewer scored six points during a 14-3 run that lifted the Rockets (54-26) to the lead before adding a transition basket for a 100-92 advantage with 8:12 left. The backup guard finished with 20 points.
The win tied Houston with the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies, but the Rockets are sixth in the West due to tie-breakers.
Pelicans forward Anthony Davis scored a team-high 27 points as New Orleans (43-37) stayed tied with Oklahoma City for the final West playoff spot.
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Spurs 107, Suns 91
Tim Duncan scored 22 points as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the depleted Phoenix Suns.
The Spurs forward added 10 rebounds for San Antonio (55-26), who now have one more win than the Memphis Grizzlies and are in first place in the Southwest Division standings and second in the conference standings.
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Celtics 117, Cavaliers 78
The Boston Celtics moved closer to clinching a playoff spot with a victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Boston’s (38-42) third successive win left them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and lead the eighth-place Brooklyn Nets by a game.
The Cavaliers (51-29), who will be the second seed in the Eastern Conference rested several key players including LeBron James.
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Bucks 96, Nets 73
Ersan Ilyasova scored 21 points and the Milwaukee Bucks punched their ticket to the playoffs with a victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
Owners of the NBA’s worst record a year ago, the Bucks (40-40) will head into the post-season with the sixth-seed in the East.
Brooklyn (37-43), meanwhile, dropped into a tie with Indiana for the final East playoff spot.
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Wizards 108, Hawks 99
John Wall had 24 points after missing the last two games and the Washington Wizards beat the Atlanta Hawks.