Artest's late heroics, help Rockets tame Bobcats

By Paul Levine Mar 14, 2009, 7:28 GMT

Los Angeles - In the end, Ron Artest made the big plays at both ends, to rescue the Houston Rockets.

Artest hit the go-ahead jumper in the closing seconds, and then blocked Vladimir Radmanovic's potential game-tying three-pointer with 4.9 ticks left, helping the visiting Rockets escape the Charlotte Bobcats, 91-86 on Friday night.

'We're very fortunate to get that win,' Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. 'We had it in control and we made three straight mistakes. They had a chance to win it.'

China's Yao Ming scored a game-high 23 points, and Argentine Luis Scola finished with 15 for the Rockets (43-24) who moved 1.5 games behind idle second place San Antonio in the Western Conference playoff race with a Texas-size showdown on Saturday night.

Yao's three-pointer - the second of his career and first in six seasons - along with a 15-footer, put the Rockets ahead, 85-77. But they nearly blew the game.

Raja Bell's long jumper, and Boris Diaw's layup after Aaron Brooks coughed up the ball in the back court, pulled Charlotte within 85-84.

Yao committed an offensive foul, and blocked Emeka Okafor's shot at the other end. But Diaw hit a 10-footer, giving the Bobcats an 86- 85 edge with 35 seconds to go.

Artest, then, took a pass from Shane Battier on a broken play, and drilled a 20-foot jumper with 22 seconds left as the Rockets regained the lead, 87-86.

'I wanted the ball,' said Artest, who finished with 10 points. 'I always want the ball at the end.'

Bell missed a jumper with 10 ticks left, and Brooks hit two free throws to make it a three-point game, setting the stage for Artest's defensive gem.

Looking to force overtime, the Bobcats got the ball to long- distance sharpshooter Radmanovich following a timeout. Artest, however, blocked the shot, and raced down court for the game- clinching layup with 1.8 ticks remaining.

'He had to bring the ball up, but he wasn't off the ground fast enough,' Artest said. 'So I just waited and swiped it back down.'

Gerald Wallace scored 17 points, and Bell added 16 for the Bobcats (28-37) who suffered a blow in their drive to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Elsewhere: Cleveland Cavaliers 126, Sacramento Kings 123 (OT) MVP front-runner LeBron James scored 51 points, including six in overtime, Mo Willliams made two free throws with three seconds left, and the travel-weary Cavaliers clinched their second Central Division title in 33 years.

Kevin Martin scored 34 points for league-worst Sacramento (14-51) which blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead.

Boston Celtics 102, Memphis Grizzlies 92 Leon Powe had a career-high 30 points and 11 rebounds, and the Celtics (50-16) welcomed back starting point guard Rajon Rondo (right ankle sprain) from a two-game absence with their 50th win of the season.

Philadelphia 76ers 104, Chicago Bulls 101 Thaddeus Young tossed in a career-high 31 points, Samuel Dalembert grabbed 19 rebounds and the 76ers stayed one-half game behind Detroit for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Detroit Pistons 99, Toronto Raptors 95 (OT) Richard Hamilton had 24 points with 16 assists, Antonio McDyess collected 16 points and 13 rebounds, helping the visiting Pistons complete a season series sweep over the Raptors.

The victory was tarnished by the death of Pistons owner William Davidson, at age 86.

Chris Bosh had 27 points and 10 rebounds, Spanish point guard Jose Calderon finished with 20 points and 11 assists for bottom-feeding Toronto (23-43) losers of seven in a row.

New York Knicks 102, Minnesota Timberwolves 94 Nate Robinson scored 25 points, Wilson Chandler added 24 with 12 rebounds and the Knicks (28-37) moved one-half game of eighth place Milwaukee for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Orlando Magic 112, Washington Wizards 103 Frenchman Mickael Pietrus scored 21 points, Dwight Howard had 18 with 13 rebounds, and the visiting Magic dropped the lowly Wizards despite a season-best 36 points by Antawn Jamison.

Atlanta Hawks 101, Indiana Pacers 87 Joe Johnson scored 30 points, and Al Horford had 17 with 15 rebounds, carrying the host Hawks to their 38th victory - one more than last season's entire total.

New Orleans Hornets 95, Milwaukee Bucks 86 Chris Paul scored 30 points and David West added 21, leading the surging Hornets to their ninth win in the last 10 games.

Portland Trail Blazers 109, New Jersey Nets 100 Brandon Roy scored 31 points, Frenchman Nicolas Batum had 20 and the Blazers (41-24) moved into a tie with idle Utah atop the Northwest Division.

Devin Harris scored 27 points for the New Jersey (28-37) which again failed to jump into eighth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Golden State Warriors 119, Dallas Mavericks 110 Stephen Jackson scored 31 points, Monta Ellis had a season high 29 and the Warriors slowed down the visiting Mavericks' playoff push.

German wunderkind Dirk Nowitzki tallied 27 points, while Jason Kidd had his second triple double of the season, with 21 points, 11 assists and 10 boards for Dallas (40-26) which holds down the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoff picture.