NBA Roundup \ Saturday’s games

April 12, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Nets 103, Magic 93

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Vince Carter had 27 points and nine assists, and the Nets ended Orlando’s bid for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. 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. Orlando came into the game needing to win its final three games and have Boston (60-19) lose its final three to get the second slot behind LeBron James and the Cavaliers. However, Van Gundy noted that the chances of that were slim and he elected to give Rashard Lewis (17.7 points) the next two games off to rest tendinitis in his right knee. Orlando stayed close for a quarter playing its fourth game in five nights, but the Nets pushed a four-point first-quarter lead to 10 at the half behind 11 points from Josh Boone. They increased the margin to 15 in the third quarter when Carter hit consecutive 3-pointers for a 73-58 lead. Orlando hung around until midway through the fourth quarter, getting within 87-82 on a short jumper by Anthony Johnson with 7:37 to play. Bobby Simmons then hit one of the Nets’ 11 3-pointers and Orlando never got close again.

Pacers 106, Pistons 102

INDIANAPOLIS — Danny Granger scored 24 points and the Pacers stalled the Pistons’ 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. With two games left in the regular season, Detroit has already clinched its eighth straight playoff appearance but is hoping to move up from the No. 8 seed. The Pistons began the night tied for seventh with Chicago and hosts the Bulls on Monday night. Indiana was eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight year with a loss at Atlanta on Friday. Brandon Rush had 21 points for the Pacers, while Jack and T.J. Ford added 18 apiece.

Suns 110, Timberwolves 97

MINNEAPOLIS — Grant Hill gave his young teammates a lesson in professionalism. Two games after the Suns were eliminated from playoff contention, Hill scored 19 points in 23 minutes to lead Phoenix. 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.

Associated Press