duncan228
03-31-2008, 04:49 PM
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jMmEGIJahMhaousdkCt-fO9lY9MAD8VOASL00
NBA Playoff Race in West Gets Tighter
The surging San Antonio Spurs and surprising New Orleans Hornets are in a virtual tie at the top of the Western Conference. At the other end of the West playoff race, the Nuggets, Warriors and Mavericks are even.
The defending champion Spurs turned a much-hyped matchup with the Houston Rockets in San Antonio into a rout Sunday, as Tony Parker and Michael Finley scored 22 points in a 109-88 victory.
The Spurs (51-23) have won seven straight and are percentage points behind New Orleans (50-22) at the top of both the Southwest Division and the West.
The Hornets reached 50 victories for the first time since 1997-98 by beating the Toronto Raptors 118-111, behind 32 points from David West.
"It's huge for us," West said of reaching 50. "I don't know if many people expected us to be where we are. We feel good about it but we're not settling for just 50. We're trying to win the West, trying to seal up the Southwest division. We're going to have to continue to play at a high level."
In Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis scored 30 points and Kelenna Azubuike hit two clutch shots down the stretch to help Golden State beat the Mavericks 114-104 and create a three-way tie with Dallas and Denver for seventh place in the Western Conference.
In other NBA games, Minnesota 110, Utah 103; Atlanta 114, New York 109; Boston 88, Miami 62; Cleveland 91, Philadelphia 88; Sacramento 120, Seattle 107; and the L.A. Lakers 126, Washington 120 in overtime.
With nine games remaining, Dallas, Golden State and Denver are all even at 45-28. If the season ended today, the Warriors would be on the outside looking in at the playoffs because they have lost two of three to both the Nuggets and Mavericks. But if Golden State manages to beat Denver and Dallas in their final meetings, the Mavericks would be the odd team out in a three-way tie.
"I'm not excited for us," Dallas coach Avery Johnson said. "We'd like to be third or fourth. "We don't want to be part of this three team, seventh seed or eighth seed or whatever."
With star forward Dirk Nowitzki sidelined with knee and ankle injuries, the Mavericks could have a tough time making a drive for a playoff spot. Dallas fell to 1-2 without Nowitzki, with the two losses coming to Denver and Golden State.
The Mavs travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Monday night before returning home to host the Warriors on Wednesday.
"With Dirk or without Dirk, it's going to be tough," said Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd, who had 13 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds. "With the West, there are no nights off, you've got to play your best game each night and everybody's fighting not just for the playoffs but for seeding. One game can move you up or down so this is what basketball is all about. You want to be in a competitive situation and I'm right in the middle of it."
NBA Playoff Race in West Gets Tighter
The surging San Antonio Spurs and surprising New Orleans Hornets are in a virtual tie at the top of the Western Conference. At the other end of the West playoff race, the Nuggets, Warriors and Mavericks are even.
The defending champion Spurs turned a much-hyped matchup with the Houston Rockets in San Antonio into a rout Sunday, as Tony Parker and Michael Finley scored 22 points in a 109-88 victory.
The Spurs (51-23) have won seven straight and are percentage points behind New Orleans (50-22) at the top of both the Southwest Division and the West.
The Hornets reached 50 victories for the first time since 1997-98 by beating the Toronto Raptors 118-111, behind 32 points from David West.
"It's huge for us," West said of reaching 50. "I don't know if many people expected us to be where we are. We feel good about it but we're not settling for just 50. We're trying to win the West, trying to seal up the Southwest division. We're going to have to continue to play at a high level."
In Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis scored 30 points and Kelenna Azubuike hit two clutch shots down the stretch to help Golden State beat the Mavericks 114-104 and create a three-way tie with Dallas and Denver for seventh place in the Western Conference.
In other NBA games, Minnesota 110, Utah 103; Atlanta 114, New York 109; Boston 88, Miami 62; Cleveland 91, Philadelphia 88; Sacramento 120, Seattle 107; and the L.A. Lakers 126, Washington 120 in overtime.
With nine games remaining, Dallas, Golden State and Denver are all even at 45-28. If the season ended today, the Warriors would be on the outside looking in at the playoffs because they have lost two of three to both the Nuggets and Mavericks. But if Golden State manages to beat Denver and Dallas in their final meetings, the Mavericks would be the odd team out in a three-way tie.
"I'm not excited for us," Dallas coach Avery Johnson said. "We'd like to be third or fourth. "We don't want to be part of this three team, seventh seed or eighth seed or whatever."
With star forward Dirk Nowitzki sidelined with knee and ankle injuries, the Mavericks could have a tough time making a drive for a playoff spot. Dallas fell to 1-2 without Nowitzki, with the two losses coming to Denver and Golden State.
The Mavs travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Monday night before returning home to host the Warriors on Wednesday.
"With Dirk or without Dirk, it's going to be tough," said Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd, who had 13 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds. "With the West, there are no nights off, you've got to play your best game each night and everybody's fighting not just for the playoffs but for seeding. One game can move you up or down so this is what basketball is all about. You want to be in a competitive situation and I'm right in the middle of it."