Bullets Finish Off the Pacers

The Washington Bullets ended Indiana’s seven-year playoff run and enhanced their own chances of qualifying for postseason play by defeating the Pacers, 103-90, Wednesday night at Landover, Md.

Rod Strickland had a season-high 34 points and 13 assists for the Bullets, who maintained a one-game lead over Cleveland in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Washington, vying to end an eight-year playoff drought, plays host to Orlando on Friday before closing the season Sunday at Cleveland.

The loss ended any mathematical chance the Pacers had to slip into the playoffs. Indiana, two years removed from reaching the Eastern Conference finals, was seeking a team-record sixth consecutive road victory.

“You saw a team that deserves to be in the playoffs and one that doesn’t. It’s no accident,” said Pacer Coach Larry Brown.

New York 96, Atlanta 92--The Knicks, needing three victories to become the No. 3-seeded team in the Eastern Conference playoffs, got one of them when they defeated the Hawks at New York.

“Now our goal is to win the last two games and head into the playoffs on a high note. We’re ready to rock and roll,” said the Knicks’ Patrick Ewing, who scored 24 points, including New York’s final six.

The Knicks moved back into a tie with the Hawks for third place in the East. If the teams finish with the same record, the Knicks have the tiebreaker edge because they won the season series, 3-1.

Miami 102, Chicago 92--The Heat’s 60th win of the season was a psychological victory, as Jamal Mashburn scored 23 points at Miami, where the Heat turned back the Bulls’ bid for a 70th victory.

“To be able to get 60 and beat the Bulls is definitely a confidence builder for us,” Heat Coach Pat Riley said.

Scottie Pippen had 28 points for the Bulls. Michael Jordan had 26 but missed 16 of 27 shots.

Portland 107, Denver 63--The Trail Blazers held the Nuggets to their lowest point total ever in winning at Portland.

Denver’s previous low came in a 105-65 loss to the Trail Blazers earlier this season.

Cleveland 78, Orlando 63--After winning at home, the Cavaliers’ chance at the eighth and final playoff spot in the East could come down to Sunday’s game against the Bullets.

The Cavaliers, who held the Magic to an NBA-record-low 57 points in December, limited the Magic to their second-lowest total of the season. Cleveland has held eight teams to season lows and three teams--including Orlando--to franchise lows this season.

Orlando was without center Rony Seikaly, who got a chance to rest two sprained ankles since the Magic clinched the seventh Eastern Conference playoff berth on Monday.

The Magic also were without the rest of their starters for most of the fourth quarter. Orlando Coach Richie Adubato seemingly tried to help Cleveland’s Mike Fratello, his good friend and former boss, by putting his subs in the game. But Cleveland almost squandered a big lead anyway.

Detroit 92, Milwaukee 85--Theo Ratliff had a career-high 25 points and season-high 12 rebounds and Aaron McKie just missed a triple-double as the short-handed Pistons won at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Detroit played without leading scorer and rebounder Grant Hill, who sat out the game because of a sprained left ankle.

Dallas 92, Minnesota 77--The Mavericks, by winning at Minneapolis, ended a two-year losing streak against the Timberwolves and also hurt Minnesota in its race with Phoenix for the sixth Western Conference playoff spot.

Philadelphia 113, New Jersey 105--Rookie Allen Iverson’s streak of 40-point games ended at five, but the 76ers ended an eight-game losing streak by winning at East Rutherford, N.J.

Jerry Stackhouse scored 20 of his 34 points in the first quarter and Iverson scored 27 after missing some time because of a collision early in the third quarter with the Nets’ Kendall Gill.

Charlotte 108, Boston 102--At Boston, the Hornets set a franchise record with their ninth consecutive victory.