SCOREBOARD
Saturday, April 15
Philadelphia at Orlando (7 p.m. EDT). The Magic have won seven in a row and are making a late push to overtake the 76ers and Bulls for the East's final playoff spot.
STARS
Thursday
— Dwight Howard, Magic, had 22 points and 13 rebounds to help Orlando beat San Antonio 92-80.
— Larry Hughes, Cavaliers, had 26 points and 13 rebounds in Cleveland's 91-87 win over New York.
— Shawn Marion, Suns, scored 29 points to lead Phoenix past Dallas 117-104.
HOSPITALIZED
New York Knicks coach Larry Brown was hospitalized overnight after becoming ill in the third quarter of Thursday night's game against the Cavaliers. The 65-year-old Brown, who's had health issues in recent years, was taken from Quicken Loans Arena on a stretcher following New York's 91-87 loss. He appeared alert and was sitting upright with oxygen tubes in his nose as he was wheeled out to an emergency vehicle.
LEBRON RESTS
Cavaliers star LeBron James sat out Thursday night's 91-87 win over New York with a sprained left ankle he sustained late in the third quarter of a blowout loss at Detroit. He walked without a limp when he arrived before the game, and the Cavaliers said he would have been able to play if it were a playoff game.
LOST OPPORTUNITY
Dallas missed a chance to make up ground on San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference by losing to Phoenix 117-104 Thursday night. The Mavericks trail San Antonio by 1 1/2 games with two to play in the regular season. If they can't catch the Spurs, the Mavericks will slide to the No. 4 playoff spot in the West.
LATE MAGIC
Orlando won its seventh straight game, keeping slim playoff hopes alive with a 92-80 win over San Antonio on Thursday night. 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.
SPEAKING
"We just beat the best teams in the league. If we get the opportunity to face someone in a series, it should be fun to watch." — Jameer Nelson of Orlando, which beat San Antonio 92-80 Thursday night to extend its winning streak to seven and inch closer to the playoffs. The Magic have also defeated Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix and Miami during their streak.