Bucks Turn Back Magic and Get Playoff Berth

With Ray Allen injured, Tim Thomas made sure the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t let a chance to clinch a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference slip away Monday night at Orlando, Fla.

Thomas scored three baskets in the closing minutes to finish with 21 points, and Glenn Robinson’s breakaway dunk with 21.9 seconds remaining broke the final tie and gave the Bucks an 85-83 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Orlando (40-41) had to win to keep its playoff hopes alive because Milwaukee (41-40) had clinched the season series between the teams by winning the three previous games. The Bucks still have a chance to move from the eighth and final Eastern Conference berth and overtake the Detroit Pistons for the No. 7 spot.

“It was a struggle the whole year, and now we have a new season ahead of us,” said Thomas, who had eight points in the fourth quarter after Allen left because of a sprained left knee.

Allen will have the knee examined again today, but he said the injury shouldn’t force him to miss any games.

Orlando, in a rebuilding season, hustled its way into playoff contention and nearly pulled off a big comeback Monday after falling behind by 19 points in the firsthalf.

“This is tough,” first-year Orlando Coach Doc Rivers said. “I played a lot of years in this league and had a lot of tough losses, but I don’t know when I have ever felt worse for a group of guys.”

San Antonio 100, Vancouver 93--David Robinson scored 12 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter at San Antonio to rally the Spurs, who played their third consecutive game without Tim Duncan.

The Spurs, trailing 83-74 early in the fourth quarter, clinched at least the No. 5 playoff position in the Western Conference and moved within a half-game of Phoenix for the No. 4 spot by improving to 4-3 this season without Duncan (left knee injury).

Indiana 92, Philadelphia 90--Playing without Reggie Miller (sore back) and Mark Jackson (thigh bruise), the Pacers beat the 76ers, thanks to 21 points from Chris Mullin.

The loss leaves the 76ers, who missed 13 consecutive shots and went more than 10 minutes without a field goal in the fourth quarter, a half-game ahead of Charlotte for the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference.

The 76ers must beat Chicago in their regular-season finale today and need Charlotte to lose one of its final two games to get home-court advantage in their first-round playoff series.

Minnesota 101, Golden State 96--Terrell Brandon scored 21 points as the Timberwolves rallied from a 15-point deficit and then blew a 12-point fourth-quarter lead before winning at Oakland.