NBA ROUNDUP : Pacers Edge Out Magic for Last Berth

The NBA’s most improved record wasn’t enough to get the Orlando Magic and Shaquille O’Neal into the playoffs, and a narrow five-point advantage in the two teams’ four head-to-head meetings was enough to get the Indiana Pacers in.

The Magic, in its fourth season, finished the regular season with a 104-85 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night at Orlando, but missed out on the first postseason berth in franchise history when the Indiana Pacers defeated the Miami Heat, 94-88.

“I feel like we didn’t do what we started the season to do,” Orlando point guard Scott Skiles said, “so I have a very empty feeling.”

O’Neal scored 31 points and Nick Anderson had 27 as the Magic won for the fourth time in five games to finish with 41 victories--20 more than last season, when Orlando had the second-worst record in the league.

The Magic began the night tied with Indiana for the eighth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference, and needed the Pacers to lose to the Heat at Indianapolis to get the spot.

Most in the crowd of 15,151 remained at Orlando Arena after the game to watch the conclusion of the Miami-Indiana game on television.

Orlando and Indiana finished with 41-41 records, but Indiana had the tiebreaker edge because it outscored Orlando, 444-439, in the teams’ four meetings. Point differential in head-to-head games is the NBA’s fifth tiebreaker.

The first three tiebreakers--head-to-head, conference winning percentage and winning percentage against other conference playoff teams--were even. The fourth tiebreaker--record against division opponents--only applies if the two teams are in the same division.

Orlando’s .500 record represents a 10-game improvement over its best previous finish of 31-51 two years ago.

Anderson, who scored a franchise-record 50 points in a 119-116 victory over New Jersey on Friday night, scored 11 points in the third quarter, when Orlando used a 20-9 run to open a 68-48 lead.

In the Pacers’ clinching victory, Vern Fleming, who has been with Indiana longer than any of his teammates, led the way.

Fleming, making only his eighth start of the season because of an injury to Pooh Richardson, tied his career high with 31 points, had seven assists, seven rebounds, three steals and only two turnovers in 42 minutes. He scored eight points in the third quarter as the Pacers overcame a seven-point deficit and took the lead for good.

“You got to tip your hat to Vern,” Indiana’s Reggie Miller said. “He had the game of his career. When the money was on the line, he put it on the table.”

Indiana’s victory earned it a first-round matchup against the New York Knicks. The Charlotte Hornets’ victory over the Milwaukee Bucks assured them of the fifth spot and a series against the Boston Celtics.

New Jersey is locked into the sixth spot and a first-round matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers, no matter how the Nets do today against Detroit.

All four Western Conference matchups--Phoenix vs. the Lakers, Houston vs. the Clippers, Seattle vs. Utah and Portland vs. San Antonio--were set after Friday night.

Dallas 128, Houston 123--Jim Jackson scored 23 points and six other Mavericks scored in double figures at Houston as the Mavericks ended the Rockets’ 11-game winning streak.

The Mavericks (11-71) won their second game in a row for the second time this season, but still ended the year with the worst record in franchise history and almost tied the worst record in NBA history--9-73 by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers.

Charlotte 108, Milwaukee 106--Kendall Gill drove through the middle and made a layup with 2.9 seconds remaining to lift the Hornets at Milwaukee.

Larry Johnson made two free throws with 13 seconds to play to put the Hornets up by three, but Brad Lohaus made a game-tying three-pointer with 9.7 seconds remaining.

Gill then worked the ball at the top of the key before making his move. The Bucks had a chance to win, but Lee Mayberry’s desperation heave hit the top of the backboard as the buzzer sounded.

Phoenix 99, San Antonio 97--Danny Ainge preserved a two-point Phoenix lead with a basket and a free throw in the final 12.6 seconds and the Suns won at Phoenix despite the absence of Charles Barkley, who was ejected.

The Spurs, who ended Phoenix’s 14-game winning streak last December, called time out with 6.9 seconds left after Ainge missed the second of two foul shots.

Willie Anderson got off a jumper, and David Robinson got the rebound, but his last-second shot bounced off the rim.

Earlier, Dan Majerle erased a three-point San Antonio lead with a three-pointer that tied the score at 94-94 with 1:10 to play, then gave Phoenix a 96-94 lead by making two free throws with 39 seconds left.

Barkley was ejected with 1:00 left in the second quarter when referee Joe Borgia hit him with a technical foul. Barkley applauded and said something, and Borgia immediately whistled the second technical.