Nets Beat Rockets, Clinch Playoff Spot

Nets Clinch Playoffs With Win Over Rockets

(Brooklyn, NY) -- After not making the playoffs for five years the Nets clinched their second straight postseason berth with a 105-96 win against the Rockets at the Barclays Center.  Joe Johnson led the way with 32 points, while Shaun Livingston added 17 points and six rebounds. Brooklyn trails the Raptors by a game-and-a-half for first place in the Atlantic Division. James Harden posted 26 points on only 10 shots in the loss. Harden hit 16-of-16 from the foul line. Omer Asik grabbed a double-double with 12 points and 23 rebounds filling in for the injured Dwight Howard. Houston is a game-and-a-half ahead of the Blazers for the fourth seed in the West.

Warriors Drop Mavericks In OT

(Dallas, TX) -- Steph Curry knocked down a step-back jumper on the left wing in the closing moments of overtime to lift the Warriors past the Mavericks, 122-120, at American Airlines Center. Curry finished with 23 points and 10 assists, while Klay Thompson posted a team-high 27 points. Jermaine O'Neal tallied 20 points and eight boards as both Andrew Bogut and David Lee were out against with injuries. Golden State is two games behind the Blazers for the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Dirk Nowitzki dropped 33 points with 11 rebounds in the loss. Monta Ellis added 27 points and six assists for the Mavs, who fell out of the top eight in the West and sit a half-game behind the Grizzlies and Suns.

Blazers Blast Lakers

(Los Angeles, CA) -- Damian Lillard dropped in 34 points to go with eight assists as the Trail Blazers blasted the Lakers 124-112 at STAPLES Center.  LaMarcus Aldridge added 31 points, 15 rebounds and six helpers for Portland, which has won four straight. Nicolas Batum posted 16 points, seven assists and five boards in the victory. Nick Young netted a game-high 40 points to lead the Lakers. Kent Bazemore had 17 points in defeat.

Bulls At Hawks Tonight

(Atlanta, GA) -- The Bulls are on the road tonight in Atlanta taking on the Hawks. Chicago swept a home-and-home with Boston Sunday and Monday and has won four of its last five games overall. The Bulls are 42-32, tied with Toronto for the third seed in the East.  Atlanta is eighth at 32-and-41.

The Bulls' Joakim Noah is being bypassed for NBA Player of the Month honors. Al Jefferson of the Charlotte Bobcats was selected instead. Noah was a finalist after averaging 14.1 points and 9.9 rebounds in March. Derrick Rose was the last Bulls player to win in March 2011.

Tuesday, April 1 Scoreboard

NBA

Brooklyn Nets 105, Houston Rockets 96

Golden State Warriors 122, Dallas Mavericks 120 (OT)

Portland Trail Blazers 124, Los Angeles Lakers 112

Wednesday, April 2 Schedule (All Times Central)

NBA

6:00 p.m. - Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards

6:00 p.m. - Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic

6:00 p.m. - Detroit Pistons at Indiana Pacers

6:00 p.m. - Houston Rockets at Toronto Raptors

6 p.m. - Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks

6:00 p.m. - Charlotte Bobcats at Philadelphia 76ers

6:30 p.m. - Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks

6:30 p.m. - Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat

7:00 p.m. - Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves

7:30 p.m. - Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs

8:00 p.m. - New Orleans Pelicans at Denver Nuggets

9:00 p.m. - Los Angeles Clippers at Phoenix Suns

9:00 p.m. - Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings