Sonics not over Hill
The Seattle SuperSonics have determined that missing the playoffs wasn’t coach Bob Hill’s fault.
The Sonics exercised Hill’s contract option for the 2006-07 season Monday, 3 1/2 months after they promoted him to replace the fired Bob Weiss.
Seattle is 21-29 since Hill took over after a few months as Weiss’ assistant and will miss the postseason for the third time in four seasons. The 2004-05 Northwest Division champions were 13-17 in the brief tenure of Weiss, a former longtime Sonics assistant who had been promoted at the players’ behest last off-season after Nate McMillan left to coach Portland.
“I just don’t think that in today’s NBA that we are as far away from being a playoff team as people think,” Hill said. “I am impressed with the attitude of this team and I’m truly excited about the club’s direction heading into next season.”
Spurs 115, Jazz 82: Manu Ginobili scored 18 points and Tim Duncan added 16 to help San Antonio clinch the Southwest Division title and the best record in the Western Conference with a victory over visiting Utah.
The Spurs earned the No. 1 seed and homecourt advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.
Bucks 113, Pistons 93: Michael Redd and Bobby Simmons each scored 19 points and Milwaukee beat visiting Detroit.
The victory temporarily vaults the Bucks into the No. 6 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and gives them a shot at the fifth seed in their regular-season finale at Washington tonight.
Pacers 120, Raptors 95: Peja Stojakovic scored 27 points and Indiana ended a nine-game road losing streak with a win at Toronto.
Indiana already clinched their ninth straight playoff appearance. Toronto ends the season in Chicago on Wednesday.
Bulls 116, Magic 112 (OT): Kirk Hinrich had 26 points and 10 assists and Andres Nocioni scored 24 to help Chicago beat host Orlando in overtime.
Chicago has won five straight and with a little bit of help can move up to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Suns 115, Hornets 79: Leandro Barbosa scored 21 points and playoff-bound Phoenix set a season high with 20 3-pointers in its final regular season home game by beating New Orleans.
Warriors 93, Trail Blazers 79: Mike Dunleavy scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half to help Golden State win its fourth straight game, beating visiting Portland.
Rockets 86, Nuggets 83: Juwan Howard scored a season-high 31 points and visiting Houston handed playoff-bound Denver its third straight loss.
Cavaliers 93, Celtics 88: Larry Hughes had 21 points, six assists and five steals to help visiting Cleveland overcome the absence of LeBron James and beat Boston.
Bobcats 98, Knicks 91: Raymond Felton had 16 points and a season-high 14 assists to lead visiting Charlotte to a victory over New York.
In a matchup of the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference, both clubs were without key players – and the Knicks were without their coach, Larry Brown, who is ill.
Around the league
The Trail Blazers fined forward Zach Randolph and suspended him for one game for what general manager John Nash called conduct that was “insubordinate and detrimental” during Saturday’s game against Golden State.