NBA ROUNDUP : Miami Clinches Final Playoff Berth

The Miami Heat clinched the second playoff berth in franchise history and hurt Atlanta’s bid for the top seeding in the Eastern Conference by defeating the Hawks, 94-89, Thursday at Miami.

“We really struggled throughout the season,” said Miami forward Glen Rice, who made three free throws in the final 12 seconds. “We were up and down. To clinch it on our home court against a team like Atlanta is sweet.”

Miami eliminated Charlotte from playoff contention to earn the final berth in the conference. The result also reduced to one-half game the Hawks’ lead over the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks in the race for the conference’s best record. All three teams have 25 losses.

The team that earns the No. 1 seeding will play No. 8 Miami in the first round.

“It looks like we’ll play Chicago,” said Heat Coach Kevin Loughery, either making a prediction or revealing his preference.

Rice scored 21 points, including four three-pointers. Steve Smith added 16 points for the Heat, who defeated Atlanta for the first time in four tries this season.

Charlotte 95, Boston 89--Alonzo Mourning had 21 points and 11 rebounds at Boston, but the Hornets’ playoff hopes ended with Miami’s victory over the Hawks.

Muggsy Bogues had 13 points and Eddie Johnson 12 for Charlotte, which is 8-1 in its last nine games. The Celtics were led by Kevin Gamble with 17 points and Rick Fox and Dee Brown with 14 each.

The game may have been Robert Parish’s last Boston Garden appearance in a Celtic uniform. Parish, in his 18th NBA season, received a 2 1/2-minute standing ovation before the game and a five-minute ovation after being replaced by Jimmy Oliver with 42 seconds left.

Utah 122, Portland 111--Jeff Hornacek scored 23 points, including nine in the third quarter at Salt Lake City, as the Jazz won for the sixth time in their last seven games.

Karl Malone had 21 points and 13 rebounds and John Stockton added 20 points for the Jazz, who have defeated Portland in three of four meetings this season.

Clyde Drexler led the Trail Blazers with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Rod Strickland added 17 points before being ejected with two technical fouls in the third quarter.

Golden State 121, Sacramento 96--With Chris Webber sidelined because of a thigh bruise, Jeff Grayer scored 19 points and Jud Buechler added 18 in the fourth quarter as the Warriors won their seventh in a row and clinched sixth place in the Western Conference at Oakland.

The Warriors, who have defeated the Kings seven consecutive times, made 14 of 17 shots for 82% in the third quarter to put the game away. The fourth quarter emptied both benches, with Buechler making seven of nine shots to finish one short of his career scoring high.

Houston 126, Dallas 100--Hakeem Olajuwon had 21 points and 14 rebounds despite sitting out the fourth quarter at Houston, as the Rockets clinched the second-best record in the NBA.

Trailing, 18-13, with 6:11 to play in the first quarter, the Rockets outscored the Mavericks, 24-6, over the remainder of the quarter and led, 65-40, at halftime.

New York 130, Philadelphia 82--Patrick Ewing had 24 of his 26 points and 14 of his 15 rebounds in the first and third quarters, when the Knicks outscored the 76ers, 73-40, in matching their team record for largest victory at New York.

Playing without suspended Anhony Mason, New York outscored the 76ers, 41-18, in the third period behind Ewing’s 14 points and Hubert Davis’ 12 to take a 96-63 lead.