Hornets Can’t Take the Heat

The Charlotte Hornets did all they could to stay in the playoff race, but it wasn’t enough.

The Hornets overcame Patrick Ewing’s first career triple-double and beat the New York Knicks, 115-108, at New York Friday night. However, about half an hour later, Miami downed Milwaukee to gain the final Eastern Conference playoff spot that the Hornets had sought.

Charlotte trails Miami by a game with one game remaining, but the Heat would have the tiebreaker advantage if the teams finished with the same record.

Ewing had 28 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists for New York’s first triple-double since 1991, but he had three crucial lapses late in the fourth quarter that helped put away the game.

Larry Johnson had 28 points and 18 rebounds despite a sore ankle, Dell Curry had 22 points and Glen Rice 21 for Charlotte, which swept the season series, 3-0.

Miami 106, Milwaukee 100--Alonzo Mourning scored 28 points at Milwaukee as the Heat clinched the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

The Heat, who can set a club record of 43 victories by beating Atlanta on Sunday, got 17 points from Tim Hardaway in beating the Bucks for the 13th consecutive time. Glenn Robinson led Milwaukee with 28 points.

Portland 95, Golden State 87--The Warriors’ late drive for a playoff bid ended with a loss to the Trail Blazers at Oakland that sent the Sacramento Kings to postseason play for the first time in a decade.

Clifford Robinson had 18 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter as the Warriors’ loss allowed the Kings to clinch the final spot in the Western Conference.

Vancouver 92, Denver 78--The Grizzlies won for only the fourth time in their last 40 games.

Gerald Wilkins scored 15 points and Eric Murdock 14 as Vancouver opened a 20-point lead early in the third quarter at Denver before withstanding a Nugget rally that cut Vancouver’s lead to seven.

Orlando 112, Philadelphia 92--Shaquille O’Neal had 23 points and 10 rebounds as the Magic beat the 76ers at Philadelphia.

O’Neal had 12 points in the third quarter as the Magic, who led by only four at the half, put away the undermanned 76ers, who have lost eight of 11.

Boston 112, New Jersey 106--Dana Barros scored a season-high 27 points, including a go-ahead three-point basket with 2:29 left, as the Celtics won at East Rutherford, N.J.

Shawn Bradley had his second consecutive triple-double for the Nets, getting 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 blocks.

Toronto 107, Washington 103--Doug Christie scored a season-high 30 points as the Raptors overcame a 22-point deficit at Toronto.

Juwan Howard scored a career-high 42 points for the Bullets, including a three-point basket with 14 seconds left that cut Toronto’s lead to 105-103. However, Acie Earl of the Raptors made two free throws with nine seconds remaining to clinch the victory.

Phoenix 123, Dallas 103--Kevin Johnson led a balanced effort at Phoenix as the Suns locked up the seventh playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Suns got 24 points from Wayman Tisdale, 23 from Michael Finley, and 21 each from Wesley Person and Johnson, who also had 19 assists and seven steals.

Jason Kidd scored 37 points for Dallas, one shy of his career high.

Seattle 94, Minnesota 86--Hersey Hawkins scored 23 points as the SuperSonics set a franchise record at Seattle with their 64th victory of the season in beating the Timberwolves for the 21st consecutive time.