SAN ANTONIO — Dwight Howard scored 22 points and Jameer Nelson added 19 as the Orlando Magic won their seventh straight game, keeping slim playoff hopes alive with a 92-80 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.
Tim Duncan scored 31 points — and surpassed 8,000 career rebounds with 13 boards — but it wasn't enough for the Spurs, who are trying to hold off Dallas for the lead in the Southwest Division and best record in the Western Conference.
The Magic (35-44) now are 2 1/2 games behind both Chicago and Philadelphia in the race for the final playoff spot in the East.
Orlando has three games remaining in the regular season, including games against the Bulls and 76ers. Both of those teams have four games left.
Orlando, which has won 11 of 12, led 78-69 entering the fourth quarter. The Spurs went 3-of-16 from the floor in the final quarter.
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili dressed for the game but did not play. Ginobili missed his third straight game with left calf and shin contusions.
CAVALIERS 91, KNICKS 87: At Cleveland, LeBron James, resting a sprained left ankle for the NBA playoffs, missed his first game this season and could only cheer as his teammates rallied for a win over injury-thinned New York. Larry Hughes scored 26 points with 13 rebounds and ex-Jazzman Donyell Marshall and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 17 points apiece for the Cavaliers, who were lifeless for 3 1/2 quarters before storming back to win their 10th straight at home. Nate Robinson, starting in place of Steve Francis (back), scored 32 points and Crawford added 19 and nine assists for New York, which is also without Stephon Marbury, Channing Frye and Quentin Richardson.