- OKLAHOMA CITY: Kevin Durant scored 35 points and rookie reserve Serge Ibaka hit a crucial basket in the final minute, allowing Oklahoma City Thunder to stave off a late Phoenix Suns rally and win 96-91 in the NBA on Friday.
The Thunder limited Phoenix to a season-low 34 points in the second half but needed a late basket from an unlikely source to avoid a third straight heartbreaking defeat.
Ibaka scored inside with 33 seconds left to push Oklahoma City's lead to 91-86, after the Suns had closed a 12-point deficit to three. Ibaka ended up matching his career high with 15 points, and Jeff Green and Thabo Sefolosha also scored 15 for the Thunder.
Amare Stoudemire had 24 points and 15 rebounds to lead Phoenix, which took a step back in the race for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
In Portland, Oregon, Dallas clinched the Southwest Division by beating Portland.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 40 points, making a key 3-pointer with under three minutes left. He had 10 rebounds and was 17 for 17 from the free throw line for the Mavericks.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points for the Blazers, who had won the three previous meetings with the Mavericks this season.
In Cleveland, Danny Granger had 36 points, including nine of Indiana's final 11, as the Pacers beat Cleveland's backups.
With home-court advantage clinched through the NBA finals, Cavs coach Mike Brown is using this week to rest some regulars. Cleveland played without starters LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Mo Williams and Shaquille O'Neal, plus reserve Daniel Gibson.
The Pacers took advantage, ending a 10-game losing streak in Cleveland.
In Atlanta, the hosts hung on to beat Toronto, and reached the 50-win mark for the first time in 12 years.
The Hawks matched their season low for points in a first quarter when they trailed 25-14, but scored a season-high 45 points in the second quarter and never looked back.
Jamal Crawford scored 15 of his 25 points in the second.
Atlanta moved ahead of Boston into the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Amir Johnson had 18 points and 13 rebounds for Toronto, which remained tied with Chicago for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
In San Antonio, Memphis dealt San Antonio a heavy setback in a tight playoff race.
Zach Randolph had 28 points and 15 rebounds, and Rudy Gay added 21 points for the Grizzlies who, with nothing to play for with their own playoffs hopes gone, settled for dropping the Spurs back down to the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.
It was the first win for Memphis in San Antonio since 2005.
Manu Ginobili led the Spurs with 26 points, hours after signing a three-year, $39 million extension.
In New Orleans, Utah remained within striking distance of the second playoff seed in the Western Conference by downing New Orleans.
Deron Williams had 27 points and 16 assists, and rookie Wesley Matthews added 20 points for the Jazz, which led by as much as 21 points in the third quarter.
Darren Collison had 28 points and seven assists, leading a Hornets comeback attempt that trimmed their deficit to five in the fourth quarter.
In Orlando, Florida, Dwight Howard and Vince Carter scored 25 points apiece as Orlando tuned up for the playoffs with a victory over New York.
Reserve Ryan Anderson added 19 points to help the Magic build a 24-point lead. The Magic swept the season series 3-0 against the Knicks and geared up for a match up with top-seeded Cleveland on Sunday.
Danilo Gallinari had 28 points for the Knicks, who trimmed the deficit to eight points early in the fourth quarter.
In Houston, the hosts made it three straight wins by downing Charlotte.
Aaron Brooks scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Trevor Ariza added 17 for the Rockets.
Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw scored 18 points apiece for the Bobcats, who still clinched no worse than the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs after losses by Chicago and Toronto.
The Rockets have defeated Charlotte in eight of the past nine meetings.
In Boston, Washington opened a 28-point first-half lead and withstood a late flurry of 3-pointers to beat Boston.
Andray Blatche had 31 points and 11 rebounds, and backup JaVale McGee had 14 points with 11 rebounds for the Wizards.
Rajon Rondo had 17 points and 12 assists for playoff-bound but out-of-form Boston, which was once again booed by fans.
In Minneapolis, Los Angeles secured home court throughout the Western Conference playoffs with victory over Minnesota.
Pau Gasol had 29 points and 15 rebounds and Lamar Odom had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who have the No. 1 seed in the West for the third straight season.
Jonny Flynn scored 19 points for the Timberwolves.
In Philadelphia, Milwaukee took sole possession of fifth place in the Eastern Conference by defeating Philadelphia.
Carlos Delfino scored 23 points and Luke Ridnour had 18 for the Bucks, who have won four straight games without injured center Andrew Bogut. They led from go to whoa against the woeful Sixers and have held three straight teams to 90 or fewer points.
Andre Iguodala led the Sixers with 21 points. Philadelphia missed 11-of-20 attempts from the free throw line.
In Miami, Detroit snapped Miami's nine-game winning streak.
Ben Gordon scored 26 of his 39 points in the second half and Tayshaun Prince added 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Pistons, who won their third straight despite missing injured guards Rodney Stuckey and Richard Hamilton.
Dwyane Wade finished with 19 points and nine assists for Miami, which saw its hopes of finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference playoff chase take a hit.
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Devin Harris hit a go-ahead jumper early in second overtime as New Jersey prevented Chicago from taking over the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Terrence Williams had a career-high 27 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the first triple-double by a Nets rookie since 2001. Brook Lopez added 26 points and 14 rebounds.
The Bulls' loss, coupled with Toronto's defeat, left those teams tied for eighth in the East with three games left.

