By Paul Levine Apr 16, 2006, 17:06 GMT
Los Angeles - Orlando Magic forward Dwight Howard practically pushed the Philadelphia 76ers out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Howard had 28 points and a career-high 26 rebounds Saturday night as the Magic won their season-high eighth straight game, a 102-97 home victory over the sinking 76ers.
Despite boasting stars Allen Iverson and Chris Webber, the Sixers (37-43) appear headed for the draft lottery. Their loss clinched playoff berths for the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks and left them 1 1/2 games behind Chicago (38-41) for the final postseason spot.
'As the season progresses, you always talk about what you could've done or should've done better, and a game like tonight that was as important as it was, for us to think about what we should've done, they're gonna add up,' 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks said.
Meanwhile, the Magic (36-44) are moving in the other direction, having won 12 of their last 13 games. They can still catch Chicago for the final spot and host the Bulls on Monday.
'We'd love to make the playoffs,' Magic coach Brian Hill said. 'But I've said all along that the key thing is that we finish up this season on a positive note.'
Howard certainly is doing that. Just 20 years old, the 6-11 forward fell one point shy of his career high set March 16 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers and eclipsed his previous career high of 24 rebounds, which he did twice.
Howard made 9-of-14 shots and 10-of-19 free throws as he helped Orlando to a 46-33 advantage on the glass.
'What would have been huge tonight is if I'd have hit more of my free throws,' Howard said. 'I would have kept some distance between us and them.'
Ironically, a missed free throw by Howard became the key play of the game. Philadelphia held a 95-93 lead when Howard drew a foul with 3:03 to go. He made the first free throw and missed the second but snuck in for the rebound and threw in a hook that gave Orlando the lead for good with 2:59 to play.
'It's about hard work,' Howard said. '(We) stepped up, in the heat of the battle, we made plays.'
'You can't (allow) it,' said Iverson, who scored 36 points but none in the last 10 1/2 minutes. 'Not at that juncture of the game. You couldn't give that up. That's what we did.'
Jameer Nelson, who scored 21 points, made a pair of baskets around a drive by Andre Iguodala for a 100-97 advantage with 1:47 remaining. Howard hauled in a pair of rebounds in the final minute to seal the win.
'Dwight was sensational,' Hill said. 'To get 26 rebounds, that's a monster effort for anybody and you don't see that too often in today's game.'
Turkey's Hedo Turkoglu scored 23 points for the Magic, who have won 12 in a row at home.
Webber had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Sixers, who need help from other teams to get into the playoffs.
'We just have to wait and see,' Iverson said. 'It is tough right now.'
Elsewhere: Charlotte Bobcats 92, Indiana Pacers 91 (OT): The Pacers (39-41) backed into their ninth straight playoff berth despite losing to the Bobcats for the second time this season. They fell one-half game behind Washington for fifth place in the East.
Matt Carroll scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter and rookie Alan Anderson made the go-ahead free throw with 59 seconds left in overtime for host Charlotte.
Jermaine O'Neal scored 30 points for Indiana.
Atlanta Hawks 120, Milwaukee Bucks 114: The host Bucks (39-41) also backed into the postseason as they wasted 36 points from Michael Redd and remained tied with the Pacers.
Josh Smith scored a career-high 28 points for the Hawks, who won for just the second time in 15 games.
Memphis Grizzlies 93, Houston Rockets 81: Mike Miller scored 25 points and Spain's Pau Gasol added 16, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the visiting Grizzlies (47-33), who won for the sixth time in seven games and moved into fifth place in the West, one-half game ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The teams meet in Memphis on Tuesday.
Sacramento Kings 100, Denver Nuggets 82: Mike Bibby had 23 points and 10 assists for the Kings (42-38), who opened a 1 1/2 game lead over Utah (40-39) in the race for the final playoff spot in the West.
Golden State Warriors 86, Portland Trail Blazers 81: Rookie Ike Diogu scored 15 points to lead six players in double figures as visiting Golden State won its third straight game.
Portland has lost six in a row and 17 of 18.
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