Warriors stay in control

The Golden State Warriors have waited nearly 13 years to get back in the playoffs -- and despite yet another win, they must wait one more night.

Mickael Pietrus scored 22 points, Matt Barnes had 19 and the Warriors moved to the brink of their first postseason berth since 1994 with a 111-82 victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks’ reserves Tuesday night.

Dallas kept Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse and Erick Dampier out of a meaningless game -- for them -- in preparation for the postseason. The Warriors took a 28-point lead in the first half on the way to their fifth straight win over the Mavericks, sweeping the three-game season series from the NBA’s best team, which also is their potential first-round playoff opponent.

But the Clippers (40-41), who hold the tiebreaker on Golden State (41-40), beat the Phoenix Suns, 103-99, to force the race down to the final day of the regular season.

The Warriors can clinch with a victory tonight at Portland. But if they lose and the Clippers win at Staples Center tonight against New Orleans, the Clippers will reach the playoffs.

Golden State still has a shot at the No. 7 seed and a matchup with the Suns if the Lakers (41-40) lose at Sacramento.

Orlando 95, Washington 89 -- The Magic overcame Antawn Jamison’s 48 points at Washington to retain its hopes of moving from eighth to seventh in the Eastern Conference with a win tonight against Miami.

Orlando (39-42), Washington (40-41) and New Jersey (40-41) are the contenders for the Nos. 6, 7 and 8 seeds in the East. The Nets hold the tiebreaker over the Wizards and Magic. Orlando has the tiebreaker over Washington.

The Nets finish the season tonight at home against Chicago. The Wizards finish at Indiana.

Hedo Turkoglu scored 26 points for Orlando, which could be without center Darko Milicic early in the playoffs after he sprained his right ankle.

Cleveland 98, Philadelphia 92 -- Larry Hughes led six players in double figures with 22 points at Philadelphia to help keep the Cavaliers in the hunt for the second seed in the East.

The Cavaliers, seeded fifth, could move up to No. 2 if they beat Milwaukee tonight and New Jersey beats Chicago.

Detroit 100, Toronto 84 -- Richard Hamilton scored 10 first-half points and the host Pistons mostly limited the minutes of their regulars.

Chris Bosh sat out for the Raptors, who lost Morris Peterson in the final two minutes with what the team called an hyperextended right knee.

Atlanta 118, Indiana 102 -- Missing the playoffs for the eighth straight year, the host Hawks (30-52) set season highs for points in a quarter (41) and a half (76) in beating the even more disappointing Pacers, who will miss the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.