NBA: Indiana Pacers keep play-off hopes alive with win over Oklahoma
Last Updated: 13/04/15 7:47am
![Russell Westbrook - 54 points for Indiana Pacers](https://e2.365dm.com/15/04/768x432/russell-westbrook-nba-indiana_3290019.jpg?20150413072735)
Russell Westbrook scored a career-best 54 points, on 43 shots, as the Indiana Pacers stayed alive in the Eastern Conference play-off chase with a 116-104 victory against Oklahoma City Thunder.
Indiana (37-43) earned their fifth consecutive victory and moved into a tie for the eighth and final play-off spot in the East with the Nets (37-43), though Brooklyn own the tie-breaker between the teams.
Oklahoma City (43-37) and New Orleans (43-37) remain tied for the last Western Conference play-off berth, with the Pelicans owning the tie-breaker.
New Orleans went down 121-114 to the Houston Rockets. James Harden scored 26 of his 30 points in the middle two periods while Corey Brewer scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to a vital win.
The win tied Houston with the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies, but the Rockets are sixth in the West due to tie-breakers.
Tim Duncan scored 22 points as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the depleted Phoenix Suns 107-91.
The Spurs forward added 10 rebounds for San Antonio (55-26), who now have one more win than the Memphis Grizzlies and are in first place in the Southwest Division standings and second in the conference standings.
The Boston Celtics moved closer to clinching a play-off spot with a 117-78 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Boston's (38-42) third successive win left them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and they lead the eighth-placed Brooklyn Nets by a game.
The Cavaliers (51-29), who will be the second seed in the Eastern Conference, rested several key players including LeBron James.
Ersan Ilyasova scored 21 points and the Milwaukee Bucks booked their ticket to the play-offs with a 96-73 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
Owners of the NBA's worst record a year ago, the Bucks (40-40) will head into the post-season with the sixth seed in the East.
Brooklyn (37-43), meanwhile, dropped into a tie with Indiana for the final East play-off spot.
John Wall scored 24 points after missing the last two games and the Washington Wizards beat the Atlanta Hawks 108-99.
Atlanta (60-20), the Eastern Conference regular-season champions and top seed in the play-offs, rested their starters.
Jodie Meeks fired in 24 points off the bench as the Detroit Pistons cruised past the depleted Charlotte Hornets 116-77.
Detroit won by their largest margin of the season as Greg Monroe contributed 17 points and nine rebounds.
Kenneth Faried scored a season-high 30 points, Wilson Chandler added 21 points and nine rebounds as the Denver Nuggets spoiled George Karl's return to Pepsi Center with a 122-111 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Karl was courtside in Denver for the first time since he was fired by the Nuggets following the 2012-13 season.
He guided the team to a franchise-record 57 wins that season and was named the NBA Coach of the Year, but another first-round play-offs exit led to his dismissal.
Tyson Chandler recorded 20 points to lead seven Dallas players who scored in double figures, and the Mavericks coasted past the Los Angeles Lakers 120-106.
Richard Jefferson and Dirk Nowitzki had 17 and 16 points respectively, for the Mavericks (49-31) who are locked into the seventh spot in the Western Conference heading into the play-offs.
Sunday's results:
MILWAUKEE 96-73 Brooklyn
BOSTON 117-78 Cleveland
DALLAS 120-106 LA Lakers
DETROIT 116-77 Charlotte
DENVER 122-111 Sacramento
INDIANA 116-104 Oklahoma City
WASHINGTON 108-99 Atlanta
HOUSTON 121-114 New Orleans
SAN ANTONIO 107-91 Phoenix