McGrady-led Rockets get home-court edge

Tracy McGrady wasn’t afraid to exaggerate the magnitude of the Houston Rockets’ 120-117 victory over the Phoenix Suns Monday night in Houston.

McGrady scored 39 points as the Rockets won their fifth straight and clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Houston (52-29) also ended a six-game losing streak to Phoenix and secured its best record since 1997. The Rockets will open the playoffs at home against Utah. McGrady has never won a playoff series in five tries, but his team will have the extra home game for the first time.

“This is one of the greatest accomplishments of my career personally,” McGrady said.

McGrady also had 11 rebounds and nine assists and Yao Ming added 34 points and nine rebounds.

Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points for the Suns, who used their starters most of the game even though they had already clinched the No. 2 seeding in the West.

Utah 130, Portland 93 -- Carlos Boozer scored 26 points and the host Jazz won its 50th game by tying a season high for points.

Boston 91, Miami 89 -- Al Jefferson’s jump hook with one-tenth of a second left at Miami enabled the Celtics to win a game in which key Heat reserve James Posey suffered a sprained wrist and shoulder in a second-quarter collision. He is expected to be ready for the playoffs.

New Jersey 104, New York 95 -- Vince Carter had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists at New York and the Nets clinched at least the No. 7 spot in the East by finishing a season sweep of the Knicks.

Memphis 101, San Antonio 91 -- Resting Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for the playoffs, the Spurs lost at Memphis, Tenn.

Denver 122, Minnesota 107 -- Allen Iverson scored 25 points in limited minutes at Denver.

New Orleans 125, Sacramento 118 -- The visiting Hornets prevailed in a meeting between two of the league’s most disappointing non-playoff teams.

Milwaukee 102, Atlanta 96 -- The host Bucks won a matchup between the teams with the third- and fourth-worst records in the league.

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Memphis owner Michael Heisley said that if he doesn’t have an offer to buy his majority share by May 1, he would end his yearlong effort to sell the franchise and take it off the market.... The Washington Legislature will not vote on a measure to help finance a new $500-million arena for the Seattle SuperSonics this session. If new owner Clay Bennett doesn’t get an agreement for a new arena in the Seattle area by Oct. 31, his $350-million purchase agreement allows him to move the team to Oklahoma City, where he and his co-owners are prominent businessmen.