NBA Daily Blog: Knicks beat the Clippers at the MSG 99-93. Bulls beat the Pacers in Indianapolis 92-87. Spurs beat the Suns in Phoenix 110-106.

Carmelo Anthony with the dunk.

Photo ©NBA/Knicks.com

The New York Knicks pick up a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at Madison Square Garden 99-93. With the win, the Knicks improve to 35-30 with one game left in their schedule against the Charlotte Bobcats in Charlotte. While the Clippers drop to 5th place in the West at 40-26 0.5 game behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the 4th seed in the West as they played their final game of the regular season. Their seeding depends on the result of the Grizzlies' final game of the regular season against the Orlando Magic in Memphis.


The Knicks were led by J.R. Smith off the bench with 21 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. Carmelo Anthony added 16 points and 6 rebounds. Steve Novak scored 14. Baron Davis scored 12. Tyson Chandler added 11 points and 5 rebounds. Amar'e Stoudemire added 10 points to 7 rebounds.


The Clippers who played without Chris Paul were led by Blake Griffin with a double-double 29 points and 10 rebounds with 6 assists and 2 steals. Randy Foye added 28 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. DeAndre Jordan pulled down 10 rebounds. Caron Butler and Mo Williams each scored 9.

 Derrick Rose handles the ball vs the Pacers

Photo ©NBA/Bulls.com

The Chicago Bulls take the win in a Central Division showdown against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Lief Fieldhouse 92-87. The Bulls improve to 49-16 with one game left in the season against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Chicago. While the Pacers finish their regular season at 42-24, seeded 3rd in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls were led by Kyle Korver off the bench with 20 points. Carlos Boozer added 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Joakim Noah finished with a double-double 14 points and 14 rebounds. Derrick Rose added 10 points and 7 assists. Taj Gibson also scored 10 points.

The Pacers who played without star Danny Granger were led by Lance Stephenson with 22 points. David West added 13 points and 5 rebounds. A.J. Price off the bench scored 10.

 Tiago Splitter backs down on Robin Lopez

Photo ©NBA/Spurs.com

The San Antonio Spurs win their 9th consecutive game by beating the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center 110-106. The Spurs improve to 49-16 with one game left in their schedule against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland. While the Suns end their season at 33-33 dropping to 10th place in the West, 0.5 game behind the Houston Rockets.

The Spurs who rested their Big 3 of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were led by Australian point guard Patrick Mills with 27 points and 5 assists. Argentinian forward Tiago Splitter added 26 points and 5 rebounds off the bench. DeJuan Blair added 10 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals. Rookie Kawhi Leonard also scored 10.

The Suns were led by Shannon Brown with 21 points. Sebastian Telfair scored 20 off the bench. Michael Redd scored 14. Robin Lopez added 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. Marcin Gortat pulled down 10 rebounds with 9 points and 3 blocks.

In Orlando, the Orlando Magic clinch the 6th seed in the East with a victory over the Charlotte Bobcats who have now lost their 22nd straight game and now are one loss away from having the distinction as the worst team in NBA history at the Amway Center 102-95. J.J. Redick led the Magic with 31 points. Ryan Anderson finished with a double-double 24 points and 13 rebounds. Jason Richardson added 17 points and 9 rebounds. Jameer Nelson added 11 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. D.J. Augustin led the Bobcats with 23 points and 6 assists. Gerald Henderson added 17 points and 5 rebounds. Derrick Brown added 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Tyrus Thomas added 13 points and 5 rebounds. Byron Mullens scored 11. Rookie Bismack Biyombo blocked 3 shots.

In Cleveland, the Washington Wizards pick up the win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena 96-85. John Wall led the Wizards with a double-double 21 points and 13 assists with 7 rebounds and 7 steals. Nene off the bench and Kevin Seraphin each scored 12. Nene also added 7 rebounds. Seraphin added 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. Chris Singleton scored 10. Czech rookie Jan Vesely pulled down 12 rebounds with 7 points. D.J. Kennedy off the bench led the Cavaliers with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Antawn Jamison scored 10. Samardo Samuels added 9 points and 9 rebounds.

In Milwaukee, the Philadelphia 76ers defeat the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center 90-85. The 76ers who rested most of their stars for the coming playoffs were led by Evan Turner with a double-double 29 points and 13 rebounds with 6 assists and 2 blocks. Jodie Meeks added 27 points and 2 steals. Rookie Lavoy Allen pulled down 12 rebounds. Jrue Holiday added 5 steals with 6 points and 5 assists. Brandon Jennings led the Bucks with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks. Rookie Tobias Harris finished with a double-dobule 15 points and 13 rebounds. Larry Sanders off the bench added 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 5 blocks. Mike Dunleavy Jr. also scored 12.

In Oklahoma City, the Denver Nuggets win their Northwest Division showdown against the Oklahoma City Thunder who played their final regular season game before the playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena 106-101. Ty Lawson led the Nuggets with 25 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Arron Afflalo added 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Danilo Gallinari added 14 points and 5 rebounds. Rookie Kenneth Faried finished with a double-double 13 points and 10 rebounds. Corey Brewer, Al Harrington and JaVale McGee each scored 10. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 32 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Russell Westbrook added 30 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocks. Serge Ibaka added 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks. 

STANDINGS AS OF 4/26/12 (15:45 PHT)
WEST:
1. Spurs (w) 49-16, 2. Thunder (nw) 47-19, 3. Lakers (p) 41-24, 4. Grizzlies (x) 40-25, 5. Clippers (x) 40-26, 6. Nuggets (x) 37-28, 7. Mavericks (x) 36-29, 8. Jazz (x) 35-30, 9. Rockets (o) 33-32, 10. Suns (o) 33-33, 11. Trail Blazers (o) 28-37, 12. Timberwolves (o) 26-39, 13. Warriors (o) 23-42, 14. Kings (o) 21-44, 15. Hornets (o) 21-44
EAST:
1. Bulls (e) 49-16, 2. Heat (se) 46-19, 3. Pacers (x) 42-24, 4. Celtics (a) 38-27, 5. Hawks (x) 39-26, 6. Magic (x) 37-28, 7. Knicks (x) 35-30, 8. 76ers (x) 35-30, 9. Bucks (o) 31-34, 10. Pistons (o) 24-41, 11. Nets (o) 22-43, 12. Raptors (o) 22-43, 13. Cavaliers (o) 21-44, 14. Wizards (o) 19-46, 15. Bobcats (o) 7-58

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