TORONTO, 15 April 2005 — Mehmet Okur nailed 25 points to earn the Utah Jazz a 93-91 win over San Antonio on Wednesday, spoiling Tim Duncan’s return from injury and denting his team’s hopes of finishing the season with the league’s best record.
Twice NBA MVP Duncan, who had missed nearly a month with a badly sprained ankle, made a solid return for the Spurs, hitting for 17 points and snaring seven rounds.
Okur, who scored the winning bucket with two seconds to play, also had a big night on the boards pulling in 16 rebound while Matt Harpring added 17 points.
Manu Ginobili had 21 points in a losing cause for the Spurs (58-21) who lost ground to the idle Phoenix Suns (59-19) for top spot in the overall standings. In Indianapolis, Reggie Miller poured in 22 points and Stephen Jackson added 17 as the Indiana Pacers rallied past the New Jersey Nets 90-86 to clinch their eighth straight playoff berth.
Reaching the postseason was a major accomplishment for the Pacers especially as they lost all-stars Ron Artest and Jermaine O’Neal to record suspensions for their part in a brawl during a Detroit Pistons game last November.
The Nets remain in the chase for final Eastern conference playoff spot despite the loss.
In Washington, Larry Hughes scored 23 points, Gilbert Arenas added 21 and Antawn Jamison had 19 points and 14 rebounds as the Wizards thumped the Chicago Bulls 93-82 to secure their first playoff spot since 1997.
The Bulls could meet the Wizards in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.
In Milwaukee, Paul Pierce scored 32 points, including a game-winning jumper with 19 seconds to play, to give Boston a 111-108 win over the Bucks and send the Celtics into the playoffs.
Antoine Walker and Ricky Davis each chipped in with 17 points for the Celtics while Michael Redd had 28 for the Bucks, who lost their third consecutive game.
In Minneapolis, NBA MVP Kevin Garnett recorded his first triple-double of the season with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past Golden State 116-100 and keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The triple-double was the 17th of Garnett’s career but the first since the opening round of last year’s playoffs against the Denver Nuggets.
If the Timberwolves are to have any hope of returning to the postseason they must close out the regular season on a winning run and get some help from Memphis.
The Grizzlies were prevented from locking up a playoff berth by a 100-92 loss to the Rockets in Houston but need just one win in their last four games to clinch a playoff spot and eliminate the Timberwolves.
In Charlotte, the Bobcats posted a 105-84 win over the Hawks, guaranteeing the Hawks last place in the NBA standings and the most chances at the number one pick in this year’s draft lottery.
