Duncan, Spurs Put the Jazz on Notice

With chants of “M-V-P” raining down on Tim Duncan from the largest crowd in the NBA this season, the San Antonio Spurs played an inspired fourth quarter and defeated the Utah Jazz, 84-78, Sunday at San Antonio to prevent the Jazz from clinching the home-court advantage throughout the postseason.

The Spurs can earn that distinction by winning their final two games--at Portland on Tuesday and at Golden State on Wednesday.

Duncan had 26 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots, outplaying Karl Malone down the stretch and showing rare flashes of emotion before a crowd of 35,122.

Portland 110, Denver 102--Damon Stoudamire had 17 points and nine assists at Denver as the Trail Blazers moved within a half-game of Utah for the top seed in the Western Conference.

Sacramento 111, Phoenix 100--Jason Williams had 24 points and Chris Webber scored 13 points and had 13 rebounds as the Kings moved within a win of the playoffs with the victory at Sacramento.

Detroit 100, Philadelphia 96--Grant Hill scored 35 points and Joe Dumars added 15 as the Pistons clinched a playoff berth in Dumars’ final regular-season home game.

Allen Iverson scored 27 points for the 76ers.

Indiana 94, New York 71--Chris Mullin made all four of his three-point shots and scored 20 points at Indianapolis as the Pacers took a big step toward clinching the Central Division with a victory that hurt the Knicks’ bid for a playoff berth.

Miami 100, Charlotte 93--Terry Porter scored 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including an 18-footer and a three-pointer in the final minute that secured the Heat’s victory at Miami.

The Heat (32-16) has to win one of two remaining games to wrap up its first Eastern Conference title.

Atlanta 76, Cleveland 65--Mookie Blaylock had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and Grant Long scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter for the Hawks at Cleveland.