NBA roundup: Carter drops 27 in Nets win over Magic

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) " Vince Carter had 27 points and nine assists, and the New Jersey Nets ended Orlando's bid for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference by beating the Magic 103-93 on Saturday night.

The Magic (58-22) may have lost more than the No. 2 seed. Star forward Hedo Turkoglu hurt his left ankle with 6:51 left in the game and he had to be helped to the locker room. There was no immediate word on his condition.

Keyon Dooling added 12 points and 10 assists for the Nets, who played without All-Star guard Devin Harris (shoulder). Rookie Brook Lopez added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who were eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week.

Turkoglu, who was going to get limited minutes in the last two games according to coach Stan Van Gundy, had 16 points before being hurt. Tony Battie and Mickael Pietrus added 14 points apiece, while Dwight Howard had an off night with seven points and eight rebounds as the Magic lost their second straight and third in four games.

Pacers 106, Pistons 102

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) " Danny Granger scored 24 points and Indiana stalled Detroit's bid for a higher playoff seed.

Indiana led by 12 early in the final quarter, but Detroit rallied and took a 102-101 lead on a basket by Richard Hamilton with 56 seconds to go. The Pacers went back in front on a spinning layup by Jarrett Jack and iced the game with one free throw by Troy Murphy with 16 seconds left and two foul shots by Granger with 5 seconds to go.

Hamilton led Detroit with 23 points. Brandon Rush had 21 points for the Pacers, while Jack and T.J. Ford added 18 apiece.

Bulls 113, Bobcats 106

CHICAGO (AP) " Ben Gordon scored 39 points, John Salmons finished with 19 after a slow start and Chicago hit the .500 mark for the first time since mid-November with its fourth straight win and 11th in 14 games.

Derrick Rose added 22 as the seventh-place Bulls (40-40) moved a game ahead of the Pistons with two to play heading into Monday's meeting at Detroit. The Bulls also pulled within a half-game of sixth-place Philadelphia with their 14th win in 15 home games.

Raymond Felton (26 points) and Boris Diaw (24 points) kept the Bobcats in it for 3 1/2 quarters, but the Bulls pulled away behind a late surge by Gordon and Salmons.

Warriors 118, Jazz 108

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) " C.J. Watson scored a career-high 38 points, Robert Kurz also had a career best, and Golden State used only seven players while beating Utah.

Watson made all 16 foul shots and had nine assists and seven rebounds. Kurz finished with 21 points for Golden State, which led by as much as 17 and never let the playoff-bound Jazz get closer than five despite being at a disadvantage with only seven healthy players.

Deron Williams had 26 points and 14 assists before leaving in the final minute, holding his ribs. Carlos Boozer added 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz, in danger of drawing the Lakers in the first round.

Suns 110, Timberwolves 97

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) " Two games after Phoenix was eliminated from playoff contention, Grant Hill scored 19 points in 23 minutes to lead the Suns over Minnesota.

Hill was 7-for-8 from the floor and played as if this game actually mattered, even though the Suns will miss the postseason for the first time in five years.

Jared Dudley scored 16 points and Shaquille O'Neal had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who gave heavy minutes to youngsters Robin Lopez, Goran Dragic and Louis Amundson.

Sebastian Telfair had 21 points and shot 8-of-12 for Minnesota.

Bucks 115, Thunder 98

MILWAUKEE (AP) " Richard Jefferson tied a season high with 35 points and Milwaukee snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Oklahoma City.

Luke Ridnour scored 18 points and Charlie Villanueva added 14 for the Bucks, who have long been eliminated from the postseason race but will finish with a winning record at home (21-19) with one final game at the Bradley Center on Monday against Orlando.

Kevin Durant scored 19 points and rookie Russell Westbrook had 13 for the Thunder.