New Orleans Pelicans' guard Norris Cole (R) goes to the basket in front of San Antonio Spurs' center Aron Baynes during their NBA game in New Orleans Wednesday. — AP NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Pelicans and Brookyln Nets clinched playoff spots on the final night of the NBA regular season Wednesday.
The Pelicans nabbed the eighth seed in the powerful Western Conference, edging Oklahoma City as both teams finished with identical 45-37 records. In the East, the Nets clinched the eighth and final spot, tipping out the Indiana Pacers.
Oklahoma City won their season finale over the Minnesota Timberwolves 138-113, but it counted for nothing as New Orleans beat the San Antonio Spurs 108-103.
The Pelicans advanced courtesy of their 3-1 regular-season head-to-head record over the Thunder.
The reward for New Orleans is a first-round match-up against the top seed Golden State Warriors.
San Antonio, meanwhile, would have been seeded second in the West had they beaten the Pelicans. Instead, the reigning NBA champions plummeted to the sixth seed.
They will play the Los Angeles Clippers (third) in the first round of the playoffs.
In other match-ups, the Houston Rockets (second) will play the Dallas Mavericks (seventh) in an all-Texas showdown, while the Portland Trail Blazers (fourth) will meet the Memphis Grizzlies (fifth).
The Grizzlies, however, will have homecourt advantage over Portland due to a better overall record.
The Nets beat the Orlando Magic 101-88 on the final night of the regular season Wednesday, but still needed help to advance to the post-season. They got it when the Indiana Pacers lost to Memphis 95-83.
The Nets and Pacers both finished with 38-44 records but the Nets advanced due to their better head-to-head record.
The Nets (seeded eighth) will play the Atlanta Hawks (first) in the opening round of the playoffs.
In other match-ups, the Cleveland Cavaliers (second) will meet the Boston Celtics (seventh), the Chicago Bulls (third) face the Milwaukee Bucks (sixth) and the Toronto Raptors battle the Washington Wizards (fifth).
Rockets 117, Jazz 91 James Harden posted his fourth triple-double this season as the Houston Rockets turned an explosive second quarter into a 117-91 win over the Utah Jazz and clinched the Southwest Division title.
Harden finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as the Rockets clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, in which they will face Texas rival Dallas Mavericks.
Bulls 91, Hawks 85 Guard Aaron Brooks scored 23 points off the bench, and the Chicago Bulls rallied for a 91-85 win against the Atlanta Hawks. Guard Jimmy Butler added 21 points for the Bulls, who erased an 18-point deficit in the second half and secured the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Raptors 92, Hornets 87 Guard Kyle Lowry scored 26 points and dished out seven assists as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Charlotte Hornets 92-87 to finish the regular season with a franchise-record 49 wins. Center Jonas Valanciunas added 18 points for the Raptors, whose previous high victory total was 48, accomplished twice before, including last season.
Celtics 105, Bucks 100 Luigi Datome hit three three-pointers and finished with 22 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-100. Datome, in the starting lineup for the first time this season, hit nine of 15 shots from the field as the Celtics won their sixth successive game to head into the playoffs brimming with confidence.
Cavaliers 113, Wizards 108 (OT) Kevin Love scored 19 points in limited minutes and guard Matthew Dellavedova had 18 points and matched his career high with 12 assists for Cleveland as the Cavaliers beat the Washington Wizards 113-108 in overtime.
Mavericks 114, Trail Blazers 98 Tyson Chandler scored 22 and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 114-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in an otherwise glorified scrimmage between two teams that came in with their playoffs seeds secure.
Heat 105, 76ers 101 Forward Michael Beasley scored a season-high 34 points and forward Henry Walker hit a go-ahead three-pointer with nine seconds left for Miami as the Heat edged the Philadelphia 76ers 105-101.
Pistons 112, Knicks 90 Detroit ended their season by stopping a four-game road losing streak with a 112-90 win over the New York Knicks.
Warriors 133, Nuggets 126 Despite sitting their starters the entire second half of a close game, the Golden State Warriors recorded a 67th win, edging the Denver Nuggets 133-126.
The Warriors, who finished with the best record in the league (67-15), will take an 18-game home winning streak into the playoffs.
Kings 122, Lakers 99 The Sacramento Kings routed the Lakers 122-99 as Los Angeles completed the worst season in franchise history.
The Lakers wound up 21-61 and set a team record for the lowest winning percentage in a season, .256. The 1957-58 Minneapolis Lakers compiled a .264 mark by going 19-53. — Reuters
