A stirring salute to the Boston Garden's basketball glory couldn't lift the Celtics in their final regular-season game there as a 3-point blitz by Hubert Davis led the New York Knicks to a 99-92 victory Friday night.
Boston, however, secured the Eastern Conference's last playoff berth when Cleveland beat Milwaukee 103-92 earlier in the night, ensuring there will be at least one more basketball game at the Garden. The Celtics will meet Orlando on Friday in the first round of the playoffs and will be back at home for Game 3 of the best-of-5 series.The Knicks trailed through most of the first half, but a 12-1 run in the third period put them ahead to stay. Davis notched five 3-pointers - two in the final period - and finished with 20 points.
Dee Brown and Sherman Douglas had 22 points apiece for the Celtics.
Cavaliers 103, Bucks 82
At Cleveland, John Williams' season-high 24 points and 11 rebounds powered the Cleveland Cavaliers past Milwaukee, eliminating the Bucks from playoff contention.
With the win, Cleveland clinched the sixth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Cavaliers will play the New York Knicks in the first round beginning Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
76ers 113, Heat 106
At Philadelphia, Dana Barros scored 21 points, leading six Philadelphia players in double figures, as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Miami Heat in their final home game of the season.
Shawn Bradley added 20 points and 15 rebounds for the 76ers. Jeff Grayer had 20 points for Philadelphia, which ended the season 14-27 at home.
Glen Rice had 36 points and rookie Khalid Reeves added a season-high 32 for the Heat, which ended the season 10-31 on the road.
Hawks 128, Pistons 111
At Atlanta, Steve Smith scored 21 of his 23 points in the first half as the Atlanta Hawks took control in the second quarter and handed the Detroit Pistons their 10th road loss in a row.
Rookie Grant Hill matched his season high of 33 points for the Pistons.
Magic 110, Pacers 86
At Orlando, Fla., Shaquille O'Neal and Horace Grant each scored 20 points as the Orlando Magic geared up for the playoffs by beating the Indiana Pacers.
Orlando gained a split of the four-game series between the two division winners in the Eastern Conference. Indiana fell behind by 28 in the third quarter and never got closer than 18 the rest of the way.
Suns 110, Mavericks 99
At Phoenix, Charles Barkley had 22 points and 17 rebounds Friday night to lead the Phoenix Suns in a 110-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
The victory, the Suns' 58th, guaranteeing the second-best record in franchise history. The 1992-93 team won 62 games, and the 1980-81 squad was 57-25.
Kevin Johnson led three other Phoenix players in double figures with 15, while Jason Kidd and Doug Smith scored 14 apiece for the Mavericks.
Nets 107, Bullets 106
At East Rutherford, N.J., Armon Gilliam had 28 points and 17 rebounds as New Jersey snapped a five-game losing streak with a victory over the Washington Bullets.
Kings 105, SuperSonics 97
At Sacramento, Calif., Walt Williams had 27 points as the Sacramento Kings kept their playoff hopes alive and ruined Seattle's bid for the Pacific Division title with a 105-97 win Friday night over the SuperSonics.
The Kings, trying to make the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons, pulled within a half-game of the idle Denver Nuggets in the battle for the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot.
No matter what the Nuggets do Saturday at Golden State, the Kings can make the playoffs by winning Sunday in a showdown at Denver.
Seattle, which got 26 points from Detlef Schrempf, failed to win its second straight Pacific Division crown. Phoenix, which won Friday night, holds a one-game lead over the Sonics. Even if Seattle wins Sunday at Phoenix, the Suns would win the title because they have clinched the season series over the Sonics.