Bucks Let One Slip Away to the Hornets

Ten minutes after the final buzzer, the Milwaukee Bucks’ locker room was empty. The Bucks were too busy--and maybe too distraught--to lament the opportunity they let slip away.

Eddie Jones made seven three-point shots, including one that tied the score with 23.9 seconds to play in regulation, as the Charlotte Hornets took away the Bucks’ grip on a playoff spot with a 109-106 overtime victory Friday night at Milwaukee.

The Bucks didn’t have time to wallow. They bolted from the Bradley Center after the game to catch a flight to Washington, where they play the Wizards tonight. A letdown loss there would put the Bucks’ playoff chances on life-support.

“My big concern is just finding some energy,” Coach George Karl said. “We’ve got to put something in the gas tank and win that basketball game.”

Milwaukee had two chances to win in the final seconds of regulation, but Glenn Robinson missed an off-balance jumper and Scott Williams’ tip at the buzzer hung on the rim before falling off.

In overtime, the Hornets scored on their first five possessions before weathering one more comeback attempt.

Milwaukee (39-40) began the night with the same record as the Orlando Magic and owns the tiebreaker edge over the Magic by virtue of three victories over the Magic this season.

But the Bucks’ loss and Orlando’s 96-88 victory over the New Jersey Nets at East Rutherford, N.J., put the Magic (40-39) one game in front of Milwaukee for the eighth position in the Eastern Conference, the only playoff position still up for grabs.

Both teams have three games left, including a head-to-head meeting Monday night at Orlando.

At East Rutherford, Darrell Armstrong scored six of his 23 points in the final 1:17 to lead the Magic over the Nets.

“We were struggling, we needed a win and Darrell Armstrong saved us,” Coach Doc Rivers said after the Magic ended a two-game losing streak.

Ron Mercer scored 22 points, John Amaechi made two key free throws with 2:26 to play and Ben Wallace, playing on a bad foot, grabbed 20 rebounds as the Magic handed the Nets their season-high ninth consecutive loss.

Indiana 105, Miami 101--Reggie Miller had 26 points at Miami to lead the Pacers in scoring for the first time in more than a month, and Indiana moved closer to securing the top seeding in the East.

Miami lost its third game in a row. Tim Hardaway didn’t dress because of inflammation in his left foot, and Alonzo Mourning didn’t start because he overslept and missed the morning shoot-around.

The Pacers increased their conference lead over the second-place Heat to three games with three to play. The only way the Heat can win the conference is if it sweeps its last three games and the Pacers lose their last three.

Toronto 86, New York 71--Vince Carter scored 34 points and the Raptors showed they’re ready for a possible first-round matchup against the Knicks with a convincing victory at Toronto.

Carter made 14 of 19 shots, making an assortment of long-range jumpers, Antonio Davis added 17 points on eight-of-13 shooting and Tracy McGrady had 11 points and nine rebounds.

“I’m disappointed in the way that we lost. The last three times it seemed like they kicked our butts and they have our number,” the Knicks’ Patrick Ewing said. “They played like they were very confident. We just have to play a lot better.”

Denver 105, Golden State 97--Raef LaFrentz had 23 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots for the Nuggets at Denver.

Boston 106, Chicago 91--Danny Fortson had 21 points and 10 rebounds at Boston, as the Celtics avoided becoming the only team to lose more than twice to the Bulls.

Philadelphia 104, Atlanta 92--Allen Iverson scored 27 points and Tyrone Hill added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the 76ers at Atlanta.

Dallas 117, Seattle 103--Erick Strickland scored 15 of his 21 points while the hot Mavericks (8-2 in their last 10 games) were rolling to a 23-point halftime lead at Dallas.

Minnesota 104, Vancouver 94--Terrell Brandon made his first three shots of the second overtime and scored 20 points to lift the Timberwolves over the Grizzlies at Vancouver, Canada.