PHILADELPHIA (AP) John Salmons had a career-high 22 points in leading Philadelphia to a 86-71 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, keeping the Sixers' once-fading playoff hopes alive.

Kenny Thomas had 19 points and Eric Snow added 13 assists for the Sixers, who won their third straight game _ all without injured All-Star Allen Iverson.

Cleveland lost its fourth in a row, while Philadelphia pulled within one game of the Cavaliers, who began the night with a half-game lead over Boston for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

LeBron James had 16 points on 5-for-13 shooting to lead Cleveland, which had won seven straight prior to its slide.

Pacers 107, Magic 92

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Ron Artest scored a career-high 35 points as All-Stars Jermaine O'Neal and Tracy McGrady sat out.

O'Neal, Indiana's leading scorer and rebounder, was sidelined by a bruised right knee. Al Harrington had 19 points in his place. Jeff Foster added 16 points and 11 rebounds in the Pacers' third straight victory.

The Magic, losers of seven straight, played without the NBA's leading scorer, McGrady, who was sidelined by tendinitis in his left knee. His condition is day-to-day.

With more shots available, Tyronn Lue set a career-high with 32 points and Juwan Howard added 24. Lue's 13 field goals and 19 attempts also were career bests. But Orlando couldn't overcome 21 turnovers and a defense that allowed 25 shots from point-blank range.

Knicks 108, Raptors 101

NEW YORK (AP) With three key players out with injuries, Stephon Marbury had 38 points and nine assists to lead Knicks past Toronto.

Tim Thomas and Penny Hardaway did not play because of groin injuries, and Allan Houston (bruised quadriceps) played just eight minutes. Reserves DerMarr Johnson and Michael Sweetney made big contributions, with Johnson producing 15 points and seven rebounds.

Sweetney, a rookie forward, hit a pair of free throws, stole a loose ball from Vince Carter and dunked to put New York up 80-79 in the fourth quarter, and the Knicks never trailed again. Sweetney finished with eight points and nine rebounds.

The win clinched the season series for the Knicks, 3-1. New York is in seventh place in the tightly-packed Eastern Conference playoff race.

Carter scored 40 for Toronto.

Celtics 102, Nets 93

BOSTON (AP) Paul Pierce scored 34 points to help the Boston Celtics take over eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

New Jersey fell to 1-3 without Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin.

The Celtics moved a half-game ahead of Cleveland, which lost to Philadelphia.

New Jersey pulled to 98-89 on consecutive 3-pointers by Lucious Harris, who had 15 points as the starter in place of Kidd. The closest the Nets came after that was 100-93 on a dunk by Richard Jefferson with 32 seconds remaining.

Chucky Atkins had 17 points and Walter McCarty 15 for the Celtics.

Suns 99, Hornets 94

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Amare Stoudemire scored 25 points while Shawn Marion had 21 points and 10 rebounds.

New Orleans lost its second straight game without leading scorer Baron Davis, who's expected to be out up to two weeks while the Hornets embark on a five-game West Coast trip.

New Orleans shot 9-of-18 in the final period, including 4-of-6 3-pointers _ three by Steve Smith. Jamaal Magloire's jump hook had the Hornets as close as 95-94 with 35 seconds left, but Joe Johnson ended his 17-point performance by hitting a jumper over David Wesley with 13 seconds to go.

The Hornets needed a 3-pointer to tie, but Wesley went for a leaner from near the foul line. It bounced off the rim toward the sideline, and Phoenix regained control with under two seconds left.

Grizzlies 109, Rockets 86

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Stromile Swift had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and the surging Memphis Grizzlies rode a big early lead to a victory.

Jason Williams added 18 points as Memphis won its fourth straight game and 12th in its last 14.

Five Grizzlies finished in double figures in a game so lopsided that most of the starters were on the bench for the final 10 minutes.

James Posey, Pau Gasol and Bonzi Wells added 12 points apiece for Memphis.

Steve Francis had 17 points for the Rockets.

The Grizzlies led 39-19 after one, 59-42 at the half and 86-65 going into the final period.

Bucks 115, Bulls 105

CHICAGO (AP) The Milwaukee Bucks remained in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and overcame an injury to Keith Van Horn to defeat Chicago behind 23 points from Joe Smith and 22 from Desmond Mason.

Milwaukee snapped a five-game losing streak to the Bulls in Chicago.

Van Horn did not return after spraining his left ankle in the first quarter. He scored six points.

In his third appearance with Chicago, Jannero Pargo tied a franchise record for most 3's in a game with seven. Michael Jordan and Jalen Rose share the record. Pargo scored a career-high 34 points, shooting 13-for-22 from the floor with nine assists.

Heat 119, Mavericks 118, OT

MIAMI (AP) Rafer Alston's 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left in overtime extended the Heat's winning streak to seven games.

Marquis Daniels scored a career-high 31 points for the Mavericks, who lost their third in a row. Dirk Nowitzki added 25 before fouling out with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter.

Dwyane Wade had 24 points for Miami, which also extended its home winning streak to eight games. Lamar Odom added 26 points and 18 rebounds, and Eddie Jones and Alston each scored 20.

Odom hit the first of two free throws after he was intentionally fouled to pull Miami to 118-116 with 4.1 seconds left. Odom missed the second free throw, and the ball was tipped out of bounds off Antoine Walker's back with 2.5 seconds left. Alston caught the inbounds pass from Caron Butler and sank the winning 3-pointer from the left corner.

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