PISTONS 104, MAGIC 99 at Auburn Hills, Mich.: Tayshaun Prince’s short jumper broke a late tie, and Detroit beat Orlando on Wednesday night to lock up home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. “That’s nothing,” Tayshaun Prince said in a low-key locker room after the game. “After what Joe Dumars has brought here, and what we’ve accomplished on the floor, we’re not going to get excited about this. We’re not going to celebrate a thing unless we win it all.” In a possible preview of a first-round series, Chauncey Billups led the Pistons with 28 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Richard Hamilton added 21. With the score tied at 95, Prince backed down Hedo Turkoglu, then hit a turnaround jumper with 1:17 left. After Jameer Nelson missed a 3-pointer, the Pistons ran the shot clock down to three seconds before Billups hit a long 3-pointer over Keyon Dooling and Dwight Howard to make it a five-point game. Trevor Ariza’s layup pulled the Magic within three, but Billups clinched the game from the line.
Noteworthy: The eighth-place Magic had its lead over Indiana cut to one game in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
ROCKETS 99, TRAIL BLAZERS 95 at Portland, Ore.: Tracy McGrady had 32 points and Houston recorded its 50th victory. Yao Ming added 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets, who won their fifth straight road game. Portland, which trailed by as many as 25 points, was led by rookie Brandon Roy’s 20 points. The Blazers made it interesting for the fans who were left at the Rose Garden when Travis Outlaw hit a 3-pointer with 12.8 seconds to go that narrowed the deficit to 94-91. Rafter Alston made two free throws for Houston before Jamaal Magloire narrowed it again with a dunk. Alston answered with 1-of-2 free throws, then Dan Dickau’s reverse layup for Portland made it 97-95. Yao hit two free throws with 0.1 seconds left for the final margin.
Noteworthy: Roy fell on McGrady’s legs with 58.8 seconds left. After spending some time on the floor, McGrady rose and walked gingerly on the sideline. It was not immediately known if he was injured, but he was standing with his teammates as the clock wound down.
SUNS 109, SUPERSONICS 91 at Phoenix: Shawn Marion had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Phoenix stayed two games ahead of San Antonio in the fight for the No. 2 playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Noteworthy: The Sonics stayed close until Phoenix outscored them 13-3 to start the fourth quarter to go up 96-80. The Suns outscored Seattle 26-14 in the fourth.
SPURS 109, KINGS 100 at San Antonio: Tim Duncan scored 26 points, Michael Finley added 19, and San Antonio rallied in the fourth quarter. Duncan scored 13 in the fourth quarter, and Finley added 10 to help the Spurs erase the Kings’ five-point lead in the third.
Noteworthy: Ron Artest sat out for Sacramento with a sore left hamstring.
MAVERICKS 105, TIMBERWOLVES 88 at Minneapolis: With Dirk Nowitzki and Jerry Stackhouse resting at home, Josh Howard scored 12 points in the third quarter and Dallas hit eight of its nine 3-pointers in the quarter to pull away.
Noteworthy: New University of Minnesota men’s basketball coach Tubby Smith attended the game and sat two seats down from Jim Molinari, who served as interim coach for the Gophers last season.
76ERS 102, CELTICS 94 at Boston: Steven Hunter tied a career high with 20 points, Andre Miller added 19 points and Philadelphia outscored Boston 55-36 in the second half to win its third straight game.
Noteworthy: The 76ers won the season series 3-1.
PACERS 104, BUCKS 98 at Milwaukee: Mike Dunleavy scored 25 points, including four free throws in the final 7.7 seconds, and Indiana pulled within a game of Orlando.
Noteworthy: Milwaukee is 1-14 against the Central Division.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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