LOTTERY Nuggets beat Cavs on guarantee

Denver won a draft tie-breaker against Cleveland.
NEW YORK (AP) -- The odds always seem to be against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The NBA broke ties among eight teams Monday in preparation for the June draft, with the Denver Nuggets beating out Cleveland in the tie-breaker for being guaranteed at least the fourth overall choice.
The Nuggets and Cavs both finished with 17-65 records, the worst in the league.
During Monday's random drawings, conducted by Stu Jackson, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations, Denver was awarded the No. 4 pick if it does not finish in the top three in draft lottery on May 22.
Cleveland will choose no lower than fifth if it is not among the top three in the lottery.
Disappointment
"We are disappointed that we lost today's tie-breaker, however the real lottery is on May 22," Cavs general manager Jim Paxson said. "Regardless of what first round pick we have, we will own the best pick that the Cavaliers have had since 1986."
Both Denver and Cleveland have 225 chances out of 1,000 to get in the top three spots in the lottery. High school superstar LeBron James of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary is expected to be the No. 1 pick.
New York and Washington, which both finished 37-45, will receive 15 and 14 chances, respectively, in the lottery. If the Knicks do not land in the top three in the lottery, they will select ninth. Washington would go 10th if it does not win its way into the top three.
Among teams that made the playoffs and won't be involved in the lottery, Milwaukee and Orlando both were 42-40. The Bucks won the tie-breaker and will choose 14th in the first round, followed by the Magic.
Boston won its tie-breaker with Phoenix and will select 16th in the opening round and the Suns will choose 17th.
New Orleans beat Utah in the tie-breaker and will pick 18th overall, followed by the Jazz. Philadelphia beat Indiana in the tie-breaker and gets the 20th spot, which it already has traded to Boston. The Pacers' pick, 21st overall, is owned by Atlanta.
Portland won the tie-breaker with the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit and will go 23rd. The Lakers then beat the Pistons in another tie-breaker and will go 24th, followed by Detroit.
San Antonio will go 28th in the first round after beating Dallas in the tie-breaker, and the Mavericks will pick 29th.