* Victory over Portland will secure top spot for San Antonio
* Carmelo scores 39 to stabilise Knicks
* LeBron leads short-handed Heat
(updates after Clippers win)
April 22 (Reuters) – The San Antonio Spurs moved to within
one victory of securing the Western Conference top seed for the
playoffs on Sunday as the NBA’s leading contenders continued to
jostle for position in the final week of the regular season.
The Spurs easily defeated Cleveland 114-98, after Oklahoma
City suffered a heartbreaking double overtime defeat to the Los
Angeles Lakers, handing San Antonio a one-and-a-half game
advantage over the Thunder in the conference.
San Antonio, who would finish ahead of Oklahoma City by
virtue of the tie-breaker between the teams should they finish
level, can clinch the top seed with a victory over Portland on
Monday.
Oklahoma City sustained a blow in their 114-106 loss to the
Lakers in a physical battle that saw Los Angeles forward Metta
World Peace ejected after striking James Harden with an elbow to
the head in the second quarter.
World Peace was celebrating a dunk when he flung an elbow at
Harden, knocking his opponent out of the game with a concussion
and earning himself an early shower.
â??”It was unfortunate that James had to get hit with an
unintentional elbow,” World Peace told reporters, following the
action that will likely see him face a suspension.
“â??I hope he is OK. I apologise to the Thunder and to James
Harden.”
The incident overshadowed a thrilling showdown that featured
clutch shooting from Kobe Bryant, who had 26 points, and a
game-high 35 points from Kevin Durant.
The Lakers remained third in the West and stayed half a game
ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers, who beat New Orleans 107-98
in the day’s final game.
Meanwhile, Denver edged in front of Dallas for sixth in the
same conference following their 101-74 blowout of Orlando.
In the Eastern Conference, Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points
to help the New York Knicks edge Atlanta 113-112 and move half a
game ahead of Philadelphia for seventh in the East.
A shorthanded Miami Heat beat Houston 97-88 behind 32 points
from LeBron James. The Heat trail East-leading Chicago by two
games with as many contests remaining.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John
O’Brien)
