Antawn Jamison’s layup with 1.3 seconds remaining Sunday gave the Washington Wizards a 106-104 comeback victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.
With Washington’s Larry Hughes racing the length of the court and the clock running down, Charlotte’s Brevin Knight knocked the ball away from behind. But it went right to Jamison, who flung it off the glass and into the basket.
The Wizards moved within one game of the Bulls with two to play in the race for the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Wizards hold the tiebreaker over the Bulls.
Hughes had 28 points and four steals, Gilbert Arenas had 27 points and eight rebounds and Jamison had 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Wizards, down by 11 with 7:14 to play.
Grizzlies make playoffs
The Memphis Grizzlies secured a playoff berth for the second straight season when Seattle beat Minnesota and eliminated the Timberwolves from postseason consideration.
The Grizzlies hold a two-game lead over the Timberwolves in the race for eighth in the Western Conference with two games left. Memphis gets the playoff berth by winning the season series over Minnesota.
Heat’s O’Neal injured
Heat center Shaquille O’Neal bruised his right thigh shortly before halftime against the Pacers and missed the rest of the game. Coach Stan Van Gundy said, “We won’t play him until he’s 100 percent.”
SUNDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Charlotte 104 at Washington 106
Wizards finished 29-12 at MCI Center, best home record since arena opened in ’97. Injury-plagued Bobcats dressed just 9 players; Emeka Okafor sat out with bruised thigh.
Indiana 80 at Miami 84
Heat halted skid at 4 behind Eddie Jones (17 pts, 10 rebs), Damon Jones (16 pts). Pacers 2 back of Wizards for No. 5 playoff seed. A pair of late altercations resulted in no ejections.
Cleveland 87 at Detroit 90
Cavs’ LeBron James had 37 pts, 11 rebs but air-balled 3-pter at buzzer that would have sent game to OT. Rasheed Wallace injured hamstring but Richard Hamilton’s 19 pts paced Pistons.
Boston 103 at Toronto 98
After 76ers’ loss to Nets gave Celtics 1st Atlantic title in 13 years, Paul Pierce had 25 pts, 11 rebs in win over Raptors and Jalen Rose (31 pts). Boston No. 3 seed in Eastern Conf. playoffs.
Philadelphia 83 at New Jersey 104
Vince Carter 43 pts, Jason Kidd 67th career triple-double (11 pts, 16 assists, 10 rebs) for Nets, who scored season-high 65 1st-half pts and kept 76ers from clinching postseason berth.
Atlanta 139 at New York 135
Tyronn Lue 8 of 32 points in OT, Josh Smith 19 of 21 in 2nd half for Hawks in NBA’s highest-scoring game this season. Knicks’ Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford 31 pts each.
Dallas 114 at L.A. Lakers 112
Dirk Nowitzki 24 pts, 8 rebs, Michael Finley 20 pts as Mavs won 14th of 16 since Avery Johnson became coach. Lakers, losers of 17 of 19, trailed by 9 with :19.3 left, fell short.
Seattle 109 at Minnesota 94
Ray Allen 34 pts, Rashard Lewis 28 as Sonics ended T’wolves’ playoff hopes despite Latrell Sprewell’s 20 pts, Kevin Garnett’s 17. Seattle outscored Minnesota 58-40 in paint.
Utah 82 at Portland 100
Ruben Patterson scored 23 as Blazers won showdown of Northwest Division cellar-dwellers. Damon Stoudamire 18 pts, 12 asts, 4 3-pters, giving him franchise record 180 this season.
