NBA

Playoff-bound Heat seals Magic season

By Times Staff Writer
Published April 21, 2005

ORLANDO - With Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade watching from the bench, the Heat won its final tuneup before the playoffs, beating the Magic 98-93 Wednesday night.

The Heat (59-23) enters the playoffs on a three-game winning streak, proving it has snapped out of the funk that developed after it clinched the East's top seed April 5. Miami lost four straight after that.

The Heat will open the playoffs against New Jersey this weekend. The Nets took the eighth and final postseason berth by beating Boston.

Miami took all three games from New Jersey, winning by an average of more than 21 points.

The absence of O'Neal for a second straight game was expected. His bruised right thigh may sideline him for Game 1 of the first round.

But there was no warning Wade would be a bystander. He played 23 minutes the night before, in a win over Charlotte.

No Miami starter played more than 24 minutes.

The Magic improved its record by 15 games from last year, but ended the season with 19 losses in their final 24 games. That slump cost Orlando a playoff berth, and cost coach Johnny Davis his job.

Interim coach Chris Jent finished with a 5-13 record.

KNICKS 113, WIZARDS 105: Jamal Crawford made seven 3-pointers and scored 36 points, and host New York came from behind to beat playoff-bound Washington. The Knicks didn't lead until 1:48 remained when Maurice Taylor posted up Etan Thomas, hit a short jumper and drew Thomas' sixth foul. Crawford followed with his seventh 3-pointer with 1:06 left, and the Wizards were forced to foul the Knicks, who set a team record by hitting all 26 of their free throws, including seven by Crawford.

76ERS 110, HAWKS 86: Allen Iverson scored all 16 of his points in the first quarter to put the finishing touches on his fourth scoring title, and host Philadelphia clinched at least seventh place. Kyle Korver added 21 points for the Sixers. Tyronn Lue had 20 points for the Hawks, who finished 13-69 for the worst record in the NBA.

BOBCATS 97, PISTONS 86: Emeka Okafor had 16 points and 19 rebounds. Charlotte finished its first season with a victory and snapped Detroit's 11-game winning streak. Charlotte finished 18-64 and was 2-1 against the defending NBA champion Pistons. Tayshaun Prince scored 13 points for the Pistons, the No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

CLIPPERS 86, HORNETS 75: Elton Brand scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to help visting Los Angeles, leaving the Hornets with the worst record in franchise history. New Orleans (18-64) had a nine-game losing streak to end the season.

TIMBERWOLVES 95, SPURS 73: Ndudi Ebi had a career-high 18 points and eight rebounds and Michael Olowokandi had 10 points and 14 rebounds for host Minnesota, whose lost season finally came to an end.

PACERS 85, BULLS 83: Jermaine O'Neal (21 points) and Anthony Johnson (20) saved Reggie Miller's farewell party and made sure host Indiana won't open the playoffs in Detroit.

MAVERICKS 108, GRIZZLIES 88: Josh Howard scored 27 to help visiting Dallas. The Mavericks, who will play Houston in the first round of the playoffs, closed the season with nine wins. Memphis, the Western Conference's No. 8 seed, limped into the postseason, losing five of its final six.

ROCKETS 106, SUPERSONICS 78: With Tracy McGrady watching from the sideline, Mike James scored 24 points to help host Houston to its seventh straight win. The Rockets will begin the playoffs Saturday against Dallas.

[Last modified April 21, 2005, 01:06:12]