EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Orlando Magic are back in the playoff picture with three games left.
Darrell Armstrong scored six of his 23 points in the final 1:17 and Orlando opened a one-game lead in the race for the Eastern Conference's last playoff berth with a 96-88 win over New Jersey on Friday night.Ron Mercer added 22 points and Ben Wallace grabbed 20 rebounds as Orlando snapped a two-game losing streak and handed the Nets their season-high ninth straight loss.
HORNETS 109, BUCKS 106 (OT): At Milwaukee, Eddie Jones hit seven 3-pointers, including one that tied the game with 23.9 seconds left in regulation, as Charlotte took away Milwaukee's grip on a playoff spot.
Glenn Robinson had a season-high 38 points for the Bucks.
Milwaukee's loss and Orlando's win over New Jersey put the Magic (40-39) one game in front of Milwaukee for the eighth seed. Both teams have three games left, including a head-to-head meeting Monday night at Orlando.
PACERS 105, HEAT 101: At Miami, Reggie Miller had 26 points to lead Indiana in scoring for the first time in more than a month, and the Pacers closed in on the Eastern Conference title by dealing reeling Miami its third loss in a row.
The Heat's Tim Hardaway wasn't in uniform because of a left foot injury, and Alonzo Mourning didn't start because he overslept and missed the morning shootaround.
The Heat were 0-for-11 on 3-pointers until Dan Majerle sank one with 10.5 seconds left, extending their NBA-record streak to 504 consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer.
76ERS 104, HAWKS 92: At Atlanta, Allen Iverson scored 27 points and Tyrone Hill added 20 points and 10 rebounds as Philadelphia won its third consecutive game and fifth of six.
Atlanta has lost nine straight. Jason Terry led the Hawks with 20 points and Dikembe Mutombo added 16 points with 12 rebounds.
CELTICS 106, BULLS 91: At Boston, Danny Fortson had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Boston avoided becoming the only team to lose more than twice to Chicago.
It was Boston's third successive win, small consolation for a team that had lost its previous 10 and has been eliminated from playoff contention.
RAPTORS 86, KNICKS 71: At Toronto, Vince Carter scored 34 points and Toronto showed it's ready for a possible first-round matchup against New York.
Carter went 14-for-19 from the field, making an assortment of long-range jumpers, while Antonio Davis added 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting and Tracy McGrady had 11 points and nine rebounds.
MAVERICKS 117, SUPERSONICS 103: At Dallas, Dallas won its 37th game, the most the club has had since getting 47 victories in 1989-90, the last time it made the playoffs.
Erick Strickland scored 15 of his 21 points while Dallas was rolling to a 23-point halftime lead.
NUGGETS 105, WARRIORS 97: At Denver, Raef LaFrentz had 23 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots and Nick Van Exel added 22 points as the Denver Nuggets beat the Golden State Warriors.
SUNS 112, CLIPPERS 88: At Phoenix, Rodney Rogers scored 22 points, Shawn Marion 20 and Cliff Robinson 17 as Phoenix won its fourth straight game to edge closer to clinching home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
T'WOLVES 104, GRIZZLIES 94 (2OT): At Vancouver, B.C., Terrell Brandon hit his first three field goal attempts of the second overtime and scored 20 points to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kevin Garnett also scored 20 and allowed Minnesota to complete a four-game season sweep of the Grizzlies.
LAKERS 121, KINGS 114: At Los Angeles, Shaquille O'Neal had 41 points and 16 rebounds, and Kobe Bryant added 31 more as the Lakers overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat Sacramento. Chris Webber had 36 points for the Kings.
Combined, the Lakers' big three of Glen Rice, O'Neal and Bryant scored 60 of Los Angeles' 64 points in the second half.