BOSTON, Massachusetts — Jeff Green's game-high 34 points included a key three-pointer that helped Boston hold on for a 98-93 victory over the Detroit that secured the Celtics' NBA playoff berth. Green made 13-of-19 shots from the field, including three three-pointers. The victory, coupled with the Philadelphia 76ers' 88-83 loss to Charlotte, ensured the Celtics will be in the post-season for the sixth straight year. Seven of the eight Eastern Conference playoff teams have now been determined, with the reigning champion Miami Heat leading the way. Paul Pierce and Brandon Bass scored 17 points apiece for the Celtics, with Bass adding a team-hig seven rebounds. Greg Monroe led the Pistons with 24 points and 17 rebounds. Clippers 126, Suns 101: The Los Angeles Clippers took off in the second half and blitzed the Phoenix Suns with a 126-101 win to claim their franchise-record 50th win. DeAndre Jordan had 20 points to lead six Clippers in double figures. Nuggets 113, Jazz 96: Danilo Gallinari scored 21 points and the Denver Nuggets shot 56.2 percent in a convincing 113-96 win over the Utah Jazz. Seven Nuggets hit double figures in scoring, including Kenneth Faried (19 points) and Evan Fournier (18). Utah's Gordon Hayward scored 18 points while Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap each contributed 16, but the Jazz saw their season-high, five-game winning streak end. Warriors 98, Hornets 88: David Lee dominated his matchup with No. 1 overall draft pick Anthony Davis, and the Golden State Warriors overcame Stephen Curry's foul trouble to beat the New Orleans Hornets 98-88. The Warriors (43-32) needed the win to retain a one-game advantage over Houston (42-33) for the sixth playoff spot in the Western Conference. Lee led the Warriors with 23 points and 16 rebounds. Davis missed nine of his 11 shots and totaled just six points to go with nine rebounds. Rockets 112, Kings 102: Second year forward Chandler Parson continued his hot streak for Houston, scoring a game-high 29 points led the Rockets to a 112-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Houston remained in the seventh spot in the Western Conference playoff race with the victory. The game was played the same day that city officials traveled to the NBA offices in New York in an attempt to convince the league's owners to keep the team from being sold to a Seattle group and moving it to the Northwest city. Tyreke Evans scored 16 of his 22 points in the third quarter to lead Sacramento. Spurs 98, Magic 84: With a litany of stars sitting out for both teams, Danny Green and Gary Neal supplied the San Antonio Spurs with a combined 36 points to lead their team to a 98-84 victory over the Orlando Magic. Tim Duncan played only 13 minutes, probably in anticipation of a big game Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nets 113, Cavaliers 95: Guard MarShon Brooks made the most of his first start of the season with a career-high 27 points in New Jersey's 113-95 victory over the Cavaliers. Brooks stepped in for the injured Joe Johnson and point guard Deron Williams was also highly effective with 24 points, three rebounds and a game-high eight assists. Knicks 95, Hawks 82: Carmelo Anthony scored inside, mid-range and outside while racking up 13 first-quarter points, 24 points by halftime and a grand total of 40 to lead the Knicks to a 95-82 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Anthony finished with his seventh 40-point game this season, and the Knicks (48-26) extended their winning streak to 10 games. Kyle Korver, left open repeatedly, kept the Hawks in the game, scoring a season-high 25 points. Raptors 88, Wizards 78: Despite seeing their playoff hopes for another season die just two days earlier, the Toronto Raptors came to life in the second half and pulled away from the Washington Wizards to pick up an 88-78 victory. DeMar DeRozan led all scorers with 25 points while John Wall led the way for Washington with 20. Grizzlies 94, Trail Blazers 76: Mike Conley scored 20 points as Memphis led wire-to-wire in a 94-76 thumping of Portland. Zach Randolph added 17 points and eight assists for the Grizzlies (51-24), who won their fourth straight game. Timberwolves 107, Bucks 98: Ricky Rubio paced the Minnesota Timberwolves with five three pointers to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 107-98. Rubio finished with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 12 assists. Ersan Illysavoa kept Milwaukee in the game with 29 points and 12 rebounds. Bobcats 88, 76ers 83: Gerald Henderson scored 24 points, including two key baskets in the final minute, as the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Philadelphia 76ers 88-83. — Agencies
