New Orleans Hornets' Melvin Ely (left) tries to score around Houston Rockets' Yao Ming, during their NBA basketball game Monday in Houston. Rockets won 86-66. - AP
HOUSTON (AP):
The Houston Rockets moved within one win of the NBA's Southwest Division title with an 86-66 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Monday. Yao Ming scored 22 points to lead the way for Houston, while Luis Scola grabbed 15 rebounds.
If the Rockets win their regular-season finale in Dallas today, they will secure their first division championship for 15 years. But in the tight Western Conference, Houston could also slip to fifth place and lose home-court advantage in the first round with a loss to the Mavericks.
The Hornets shot only 35 per cent from the field and their 66 points were a season low.
Home-court edge
In Indianapolis, Cleveland clinched the NBA's best record and home-court advantage throughout the play-offs by beating Indiana Pacers 117-109. Getting the home-court edge was especially important because Cleveland have a 39-1 record at home, the best in the league.
LeBron James scored 37 points to lead the Cavaliers, who won their fifth straight.
In Milwaukee, Orlando Magic slipped to a third straight loss by a lowly opponent, beaten easily, 98-80, by Milwaukee Bucks.
Richard Jefferson scored 24 points for the Bucks in their home finale, providing a late night note to an otherwise offkey season. The Magic were playing without Dwight Howard and two other starters.
Orlando were coming off losses to New York and New Jersey, but are locked in the number three play-off seed in the Eastern Conference.
In Oakland, California, San Antonio Spurs kept pace with Houston atop the Southwest Division by crushing Golden State Warriors 101-72. Tony Parker scored 17 points and Tim Duncan added 16 points and 13 rebounds, before both stars sat out the fourth quarter.
The Spurs won their third straight to pull even at 53-28 with the Rockets and Portland.
If Houston and San Antonio both win their regular-season finales, the Rockets will win a tie-breaker and get the number three play-off seed, while San Antonio could end up starting the post-season on the road against the Trail Blazers unless Dallas knock off Houston.
The Warriors had just seven available players.