76ers Clinch Playoff Spot

The Philadelphia 76ers enjoyed a great March, and it got them in the playoffs.

Allen Iverson scored 14 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the 76ers clinched their fifth straight playoff berth by beating the Magic, 118-113, Monday night at Orlando, Fla.

“It’s such a huge win for us,” 76er Coach Larry Brown said. “It caps off a big month for us where we had 12 road games and four home games and ended up going 11-5, which is pretty special.”

Added Iverson: “It’s good to know we’re in [the playoffs] because the East is so crazy. You lose a couple of games here or there, and you go from in to out.”

The 76ers won for the fourth time in five games and for the fourth straight time on the road.

Kenny Thomas had 24 points and 20 rebounds for his fifth double-double in the last six games, and Derrick Coleman added 18 points and 13 rebounds. Philadelphia had a 61-38 advantage on the boards.

For Orlando, Tracy McGrady had 39 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

New Jersey 110, Houston 86 -- Richard Jefferson had 30 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for the first triple-double of his career, and Dikembe Mutombo delivered an elbow to Yao Ming’s throat at East Rutherford, N.J., as the Nets won their fourth in a row.

Mutombo had four points and eight rebounds in his second game back from the injured list. It was his first meeting with Yao, and Mutombo nailed him in the throat with an elbow late in the second quarter when Mutombo got into position to box out.

Yao collapsed to his knees, holding his throat, and Mutombo was whistled for a foul despite his protests.

Yao broke out of a four-game slump and scored 24 points -- including Houston’s first 12.

Milwaukee 91, Miami 86 -- Sam Cassell and Gary Payton each scored 20 points and the Bucks closed with a 17-6 run over the final 4 1/2 minutes at Miami.

The win gives the Bucks a one-game lead over Washington for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

Cassell scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter, when Milwaukee held off the Heat.