SuperSonics fail to clinch division for 5th straight game

Tracy McGrady scored 38 points for Houston, and the Rockets kept the Seattle SuperSonics from clinching the Northwest Division for the fifth straight game with a 90-78 victory Monday night in Seattle.

The Sonics, who have been trying to wrap up the division title for more than a week, dropped their fifth straight. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets have won their eight in a row, including a 122-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, to pull within four games of Seattle with five games remaining.

The Rockets, who clinched a playoff spot with their victory over Phoenix on Saturday, are sixth in the West and have won their last three to move one game back of Sacramento.

Pistons 85, Bulls 84 (OT): Chauncey Billups scored 28 points, including the game-winning basket with 8.2 seconds left, to help Detroit clinch the Central Division with an overtime win in Chicago. Billups scored seven points in the extra session to lead a Pistons’ comeback after Chicago scored the first eight points. Detroit scored 12 of the final 15 points to escape with the victory.

Mavericks 110, Grizzlies 89: Josh Howard scored 23 points and Keith Van Horn added 14, leading Dallas to a victory over visiting Memphis that spoiled the Grizzlies’ first chance to clinch a playoff spot. Dirk Nowitzki had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Mavericks, who clinched the West’s No. 4 seed in their previous game.

Nuggets 122, Warriors 106: Carmelo Anthony scored 11 of his 32 points during a key third-quarter run and Andre Miller had 16 assists, helping Denver clinch consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in a decade with a win over visiting Golden State.

Pacers 94, Raptors 90: Reggie Miller scored 19 points to pass Jerry West for 12th on the all-time scoring list as Indiana won in Toronto.

Bobcats 110, Hawks 105 (OT): Keith Bogans scored 21 points to lead seven Charlotte players in double figures as the Bobcats scored an overtime win in Atlanta.

Cavaliers 114, Magic 106: LeBron James scored 33 points and Drew Gooden had 27 as Cleveland beat Orlando in Orlando, Fla. Robert Traylor added 20 points for the Cavaliers, who had lost five of seven and 14 of 15 on the road.

Wizards 119, Bucks 112: Two nights after scoring a career-high 44 points and declaring “I’m not Steve Nash,” Gilbert Arenas did his best impersonation of the Phoenix guard, dishing out a season-high 13 assists while passing up shots in Washington’s victory over visiting Milwaukee.

Suns 108, Lakers 97: Joe Johnson had 26 points and Phoenix hit a franchise-record 19 3-pointers to win in Los Angeles. Jim Jackson scored 25 points, including seven 3-pointers, and Shawn Marion had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, who won their league-best 31st road game. Steve Nash added 15 points and 16 assists.

Iverson could miss another game

Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson might miss tonight’s game against Boston because of sprained thumbs.

Iverson is still bothered by the thumb on his right hand, which forced him to miss Saturday’s game against Washington.

“It’s a lot better than it was on the day of the Wizards game, but the way I feel right now, I don’t think so. I don’t think I’ll be able to go,” Iverson said after sitting out Monday’s practice.