Lakers clinch spot

Lamar Odom scored a season-high 31 points, Kobe Bryant added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers clinched a playoff berth Friday night with a 112-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Los Angeles.

The Lakers have qualified for the playoffs in 55 of their 60 seasons, winning 14 NBA championships and 27 division titles. They have a magic number of five to win their 28th.

Phil Jackson has made the playoffs in all of his 17 seasons as an NBA head coach – eight with the Lakers and nine with the Chicago Bulls. Jackson, whose nine NBA titles are tied with fellow Hall of Famer Red Auerbach, also holds the all-time mark for postseason victories with 179.

Pau Gasol had 25 points and seven assists for the Lakers, and Odom grabbed 10 rebounds. It was the sixth time this season that they have had three players with 20 or more points – all victories.

Gasol and reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki both were playing their second game with their respective clubs since returning from ankle injuries. Gasol was 11 for 20 from the field and Nowitzki was 13 for 19.

Nowitzki led the Mavs with 27 points, Jason Terry scored 25 and Josh Howard added 23. Jason Kidd had 10 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. This was the Mavericks’ 10th loss that was decided by four points or less.

Hornets 118, Knicks 110: At New Orleans, Chris Paul had 33 points and 15 assists and the Hornets defeated New York to join the Lakers as the only Western Conference teams to clinch a playoff berth.

Wizards 109, Heat 95: At Washington, Caron Butler scored 29 points and the Wizards beat Miami to clinch a playoff spot for the fourth straight season.

It’s the first time the team has qualified for the playoffs in four consecutive seasons since it made five straight appearances from 1983-88.

76ers 109, Hawks 104: At Atlanta, Andre Iguodala scored 30 points and Andre Miller had 23 to help Philadelphia wrap up its first playoff spot in three years with a win over the Hawks.

The 76ers stopped Atlanta’s five-game winning streak.

Pistons 106, Nets 87: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Antonio McDyess scored 19 points, Rasheed Wallace added 17 points and eight rebounds, and Detroit beat New Jersey.

Both teams played without a key starter. Richard Hamilton (hip) sat out for Detroit, while Vince Carter (ankle) was sidelined for the Nets.

Jazz 90, Spurs 64: At Salt Lake City, Mehmet Okur had 17 points and 16 rebounds and Utah ended San Antonio’s eight-game winning streak.

Suns 117, Timberwolves 88: At Phoenix, Steve Nash had 14 points and 11 assists, then sat out the final quarter while the Suns completed a rout of Minnesota.

Amare Stoudemire had 24 points as five Suns reached double figures.

Bobcats 105, Raptors 100: At Toronto, Jason Richardson scored 27 points and Earl Boykins converted a three-point play after stealing the ball from T.J. Ford in the final minute of Charlotte’s victory over the Raptors.

Toronto’s Chris Bosh had 23 points.

Warriors 117, Grizzlies 86: At Memphis, Tenn., Andris Biedrins had 21 points and 17 rebounds, and Golden State climbed within a half-game of eighth place in the Western Conference with a victory over the Grizzlies.

The Warriors are a half-game behind idle Denver for the final playoff spot in the West.

Pacers 105, Bucks 101: At Milwaukee, Mike Dunleavy had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Indiana kept its faint playoff hopes alive by edging the Bucks.

•Milwaukee rookie forward Yi Jianlian will miss the final eight games of the season with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.