NBA Roundup: Saturday’s other games

Celtics 101, Bobcats 78

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Even without the Big Three, the Boston Celtics had enough firepower to make history. Leon Powe had 22 points and nine rebounds, leading a makeshift lineup of Celtics who were never threatened in a 101-78 win over the Charlotte Bobcats that not only clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, but set the NBA record for biggest single-season turnaround. Boston’s trio of stars, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, didn’t play, but it didn’t matter. The Celtics improved to 61-15, 37 more wins that last season’s 24-58 disaster. The previous best turnaround was San Antonio going from 20-62 to 56-26 in 1997-98, the year they got Tim Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Hawks 92, 76ers 85

PHILADELPHIA — Joe Johnson scored 22 points, Josh Smith added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Atlanta built a big lead and held off Philadelphia. Marvin Williams contributed 18 points, Al Horford had 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Mike Bibby had 10 points for the Hawks (36-41), who responded after losing to the Sixers 109-104 on Friday in Atlanta. Andre Iguodala scored 25 points for Philadelphia, which had clinched a playoff berth for the first time in three years with Friday’s win. The 76ers (39-38) had their two-game winning streak snapped but have won 21 of their last 29 games.

Nets 99, Raptors 90

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Vince Carter scored 21 of his 32 points in the second half and New Jersey beat struggling Toronto, snapping a four-game losing streak and keeping its faint playoff hopes alive. Despite the win, the Nets’ magic number for being eliminated from postseason contention for the first time in seven years was reduced to two when Atlanta beat Philadelphia earlier Saturday.

Richard Jefferson added 28 points and Devin Harris had 12 points and seven assists as the Nets won for only the fourth time in 11 games. Rasho Nesterovic had 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead the playoff-bound Raptors, who lost their third straight and 11th in 15 games.

Associated Press