Sixers in dire straits
Dwight Howard scored a season-high 28 points and grabbed a career-high 26 rebounds to lift Orlando over Philadelphia 102-97 Saturday night in Orlando, Fla., keeping the Magic’s playoff hopes alive and further damaging the 76ers’.
Allen Iverson had 36 points and five assists, while Chris Webber added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers.
Philadelphia has lost two in a row, falling 1 1/2 games behind idle Chicago with two left to play. The win was the Magic’s eighth in a row overall and 12th straight at home, and leaves them 2 1/2 games behind the Bulls. The Magic have two games left and the Bulls have three.
The Magic host Chicago on Monday night and finish the regular season at Indiana on Wednesday. Philadelphia plays at home against New Jersey on Tuesday and finishes at Charlotte on Wednesday.
Bobcats 92, Pacers 91 (OT): At Charlotte, N.C., Primoz Brezec scored 18 points, including the basket that forced overtime, and Alan Anderson hit a free throw with 59 seconds left in the extra period to give Charlotte a win over Indiana.
The Pacers still clinched a playoff berth when Philadelphia lost to Orlando.
Kings 100, Nuggets 82: At Denver, Mike Bibby scored 23 points and Sacramento inched closer to its eighth straight playoff berth with a victory over the Nuggets.
Kenny Thomas added 18 points for Sacramento, which moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Utah for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Hawks 120, Bucks 114: At Milwaukee, Josh Smith scored a career-high 28 points and Marvin Williams scored 19 to lead Atlanta over the Bucks.
Andrew Bogut had a career-high 24 points for Milwaukee, which qualified for the playoffs despite the loss.
Atlanta snapped an 11-game road losing streak and four in a row overall.
Grizzlies 93, Rockets 81: At Houston, Mike Miller scored 25 points, Shane Battier hit his first eight shots and added 19, and Memphis beat the Rockets.
Juwan Howard scored 16 points on 5-for-18 shooting for the Rockets, who’ve dropped seven of their last eight games.
Warriors 86, Trail Blazers 81: At Portland, Ike Diogu had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead Golden State to a victory over the Trail Blazers.
Juan Dixon and Martell Webster each scored 17 points for the Blazers, who have lost 17 of their last 18 games and have the worst record in the NBA.
Around the league
LeBron James of Cleveland expects to play today against the Washington Wizards, saying he “feels good” after testing his sprained left ankle. James practiced Saturday, four days after rolling his ankle late in the third quarter of a 23-point loss in Detroit. … Larry Brown did not travel to Detroit and will not coach the Knicks today when they play Detroit. Brown was hospitalized Thursday night in Cleveland with a stomach ailment after becoming ill during the Knicks’ 91-87 loss to Cleveland. … Former Portland guard Terry Porter said he is rounding potential investors interested in buying the Trail Blazers and the Rose Garden Arena. Owner Paul Allen told the Oregonian newspaper in Los Angeles Friday night that he has come to terms with selling the troubled team, which has the worst record this season in the NBA and which, he said, has been costing him multiple millions of dollars to keep afloat.