By Dan Savage
April 17, 2007: SCOREBOARD | PHOTO GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Flip Murray scored 16 points in 24 minutes to lead the Pistons past the Raptors, 100-84, on Tuesday. D.Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE/Getty
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"We've got to take care of business on our home court. We'll be rooting for the Nets.''
-- The Cavaliers' LeBron James said after their 98-92 win over the Sixers. A Cleveland victory on Wednesday, paired with a Nets win over the Bulls, earns the Cavs the second seed in the East.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Tuesday's top play: LeBron James slams home an amazing alley-oop pass.
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NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
One guy to keep an eye late in your fantasy draft next season is Ike Diogu, who posted 20 points and seven rebounds in the Pacers' 118-102 loss to the Hawks on Tuesday. Now a lot of guys put up surprising numbers towards the end of the season, like Maurice Ager's 20 in the Mavericks' 111-82 road loss to the Warriors. However, unlike Ager expect a better all-around year for Diogu, who doesn't have a laundry list of stars in front of him.
SHOOTING STUDS
Mickael Pietrus, Warriors111-82 win vs. Mavericks
22 pts, 6-9 FG, 3-4 3-pt FG
Hedo Turkoglu, Magic
95-89 win vs. Wizards
26 pts, 9-16 FG, 7-7 FT
Antawn Jamison, Wizards
95-89 loss vs. Magic
48 pts, 14-26 FG, 5-9 3-pt FG
STAT SHEET STUFFER
There was not much on the line in Tuesday's Pacers-Hawks matchup, since both squads will be watching the playoffs from home. However, Josh Smith did his best to give fans hope that the youthful Atlanta team will finally turn the corner next season as he notched 25 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four blocks to lift the Hawks over Indiana, 118-102. Rookie Shelden Williams seconded that motion with a double-double.
SHOOTING DUDS
Antonio Daniels, Wizards95-89 loss vs. Magic
0-10 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG, 2 pts
Juan Dixon, Raptors
100-84 loss at Pistons
3-10 FG, 0-2 3-pt FG, 10 pts
Shawn Marion, Suns
103-99 loss vs. Clippers
5-17 FG, 0-4 3-pt FG, 10 pts
IT COMES DOWN TO THE WIRE
A lot was on the line for both the Warriors and Clippers on Tuesday as both teams were battling for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. With Los Angeles holding the tie-breaker and Golden State grasping a one-game advantage, each squad attempted to increase its postseason odds. Matt Barnes made sure the Warriors held their ground as he ripped off 19 points to go along with 12 boards in Golden State's 111-82 home win over the Mavericks, who sat Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse. The Clippers faced a tougher challenge against a Suns' squad that played all its stars, but were up for the task as Elton Brand scored 21 and Los Angeles edged Phoenix 103-99. The race will come down to the final day of the NBA regular season, with the Warriors in control of their destiny at Portland and the Clippers in need of a Golden State loss, while hosting the Hornets.
WIZARDS FALL VICTIM TO SUPERIOR MAGIC
A month ago the playoff picture looked a lot different for both the Wizards and Magic. It appeared that Washington would fall towards the middle of the position scramble for postseason seeding, while Orlando was just hoping to hang on and show up. Now, the Wizards are dropping in the standings day-by-day, since the losses of Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, and the Magic are actually gaining ground. That trend continued on Tuesday, when Hedo Turkoglu scored nine of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to push Orlando past Washington, 95-89, and offset an amazing 48-point night from Antawn Jamison. "Just six weeks ago, it didn't look like we were going to get in," Grant Hill said. "We focused, we got serious, we started playing with a purpose and we put it together." A victory tomorrow over Miami, coupled with a Wizards loss to the Pacers, will earn the Magic the seventh seed in the East.
ROOKIE WATCH
With the playoff picture set for both Toronto and Detroit, Tuesday's game was more of a tune-up than an intense faceoff for playoff positioning. In the process, Uros Slokar made sure that he was not left off the Rookie of the Night page for his only eligible season as he poured in 18 points, two shy of his previous career total (20), in the Raptors' 100-84 road loss to the Pistons. "I've been waiting all year for a chance like this," the foward out of Slovenia said. "For me, every game might be my last, so I have to prove to someone that I can play. That went pretty well tonight."
D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT
The opening night for the D-League playoffs kicked off with a bang on Tuesday. Stephen Graham scored 13 of his game-high 40 points in a huge second quarter for the Skyforce as they breezed past the Flyers, 128-105. Damone Brown dumped in 28 points, while Curtis Stinson scored 23 in the defeat. The victory advanced Sioux Falls to the Eastern Division Championship against the Dakota Wizards on Saturday in the D-League's one-and-done format. "Graham just had an incredible game," coach Morris McHone said. "He made a lot of shots when it counted."
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