April 6, 2007 in Sports

NBA : Miami clinches playoff spot

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Bumped and bruised, but playoff bound.

The Miami Heat will officially defend their NBA title.

Antoine Walker and Shaquille O’Neal scored 20 points apiece and the Heat clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs Thursday night, beating host Cleveland 94-90 in overtime to drop the Cavaliers three places in the postseason seedings.

With Dwyane Wade watching from the bench in street clothes but nearing a return from his dislocated shoulder, the first-place Heat, who not long ago teetered on missing the playoffs because of injuries, moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Washington in the Southeast Division.

Spurs 92, Suns 85: At San Antonio, Tony Parker scored a season-high 35 points to lead the Spurs past Phoenix.

Tim Duncan had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Michael Finley added 19 points and 10 boards in the matchup between the Western Conference’s second- and third-place teams.

Around the league

Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas had surgery for a left knee injury that will sideline him for two to three months. … Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest’s court hearing on misdemeanor domestic battery charges was postponed three weeks.

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