The Boston Celtics stepped up their run to the playoffs Tuesday by upsetting Miami 115-107 for their second victory over the Heat in 10 days. Paul Pierce scored a team-high 27 points and Rajon Rondo had 18 points and 15 assists, as the Celtics (33-24) earned a banner road win to lie just two games out of the third spot in the Eastern Conference. LeBron James tallied 36 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Miami, while Dwyane Wade scored 20 but the Heat (40-16) slipped 2.5 games behind top seed Chicago after suffering their second home loss in three games. Miami had previously enjoyed a 17-game winning streak on their home floor. The Heat, dominated in a 19-point loss to the Celtics last week, fell behind by 11 after the first quarter. Wizards 93, Magic 85: Kevin Seraphin took advantage of Dwight Howard's absence from Orlando's lineup, getting career highs of 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead Washington. Jordan Crawford scored 21 points, John Wall had 15 and Cartier Martin and James Singleton — both on 10-day contracts with the Wizards — added 12 points apiece. Seraphin also matched a career high with four blocks. Jameer Nelson scored 19 points and J.J. Redick added 15 for the Magic, who shot 36.6 percent from the field. Howard missed his second straight game due to back spasms, and fourth in Orlando's six April games. The Magic have lost three of four in his absence. 76ers 107, Nets 88: Spencer Hawes came off the bench for the first time and a scored a season-high 19 points to lead slumping Philadelphia. The win snapped a four-game losing streak and was only the fifth in 15 games for Philadelphia (30-27), giving it a half-game lead over the Knicks (29-27) for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. The loss eliminated the Nets (21-38) from playoff contention for the fifth straight season. Lou Williams added 20 points and Thaddeus Young had 19 for the 76ers. Kris Humphries had 20 points and 10 rebounds for New Jersey. Deron Williams added 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Cavaliers 103, Bobcats 90: Lester Hudson scored 25 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and Cleveland beat league-worst Charlotte. Anthony Parker, who missed the two previous games with a bruised sternum, scored 19 points while Antawn Jamison added 17 for Cleveland. Gerald Henderson led Charlotte with 21 points. Rookie Kemba Walker scored 20 while D.J. Augustin, back in the starting lineup after missing three games with right knee tendinitis, added 16. The Bobcats have lost 13 in a row to fall to 7-49. Mavericks 110, Kings 100: Dirk Nowitzki and Rodrigue Beaubouis each had 15 points to lead six Dallas players in double figures. Bulls 98, Knicks 86: Richard Hamilton scored 20 points and Luol Deng added 19 for Chicago, which played without Derrick Rose again.
