Bucks Move Into Tie for Final Playoff Berth

Coach George Karl and the Milwaukee Bucks escaped with a victory, and immediately were thinking about another game down the road.

Ray Allen made the second of two free throws with 4.9 seconds left Wednesday at Cleveland to give the Bucks a 101-100 victory over the Cavaliers, moving Milwaukee into a tie in the race for the NBA’s only remaining postseason berth.

Sam Cassell had a game-high 29 points as Milwaukee (39-39) moved into a tie for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff berth after Orlando (39-39) lost at Boston.

“It’s probably going to come down to that game in Orlando,” Karl said of Monday’s contest between the teams.

Both teams have four games left. If they finish tied, Milwaukee would go to the playoffs because they lead the season series 3-0.

Boston 95, Orlando 91--Danny Fortson had a season-high 23 points and 14 rebounds at Boston as the Celtics beat the Magic.

New York 91, New Jersey 89--Latrell Sprewell scored 21 points as the Knicks kept alive their bid for the Atlantic Division title by edging the Nets in overtime at New York.

With Miami losing, the Knicks pulled within one game of the Heat in the division standings.

Detroit 90, Miami 73--Jerry Stackhouse had 29 points as the Pistons slowed the Heat’s division title hopes at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Miami was without Tim Hardaway (foot).

Phoenix 122, Vancouver 116--Penny Hardaway, in foul trouble and ineffective most of the night, scored eight of his 17 points in overtime as the Suns won in overtime at Vancouver, Canada.

Cliff Robinson had 36 points for the Suns. Michael Dickerson had 35 points for Vancouver.

Indiana 77, Toronto 73--Jalen Rose scored 24 points and led a 16-6 fourth-quarter run at Indianapolis as the Pacers defeated the Raptors, who clinched the franchise’s first playoff berth anyway because Orlando lost to Boston.

Seattle 110, Minnesota 83--Gary Payton had 29 points at Seattle as the SuperSonics shook up their starting lineup by benching Vin Baker and two other regulars in ending a three-game losing streak.

Seattle Coach Paul Westphal replaced Baker, Brent Barry and Ruben Patterson with Rashard Lewis, Shammond Williams and Lazaro Borrell.

Charlotte 119, Atlanta 87--David Wesley scored 22 of his game-high 29 points in the second half and the host Hornets held Dikembe Mutombo without a shot en route to their 10th victory in 12 outings.

Philadelphia 93, Washington 84--Reaching his highest point total since joining the 76ers in a February trade, Toni Kukoc had 23 points and six assists in a victory at Philadelphia.

Around the League

Portland Trail Blazer assistant coach Bill Musselman, 59, who suffered a stroke last October, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, the same form of cancer that struck New York Yankee pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and Philadelphia Flyer Coach Roger Neilson, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. . . . Chicago Bull guard B.J. Armstrong, 32, plans to end his 11-year NBA career after the season