Cavaliers close season with a win
Victory means the Cavs are only tied for worst record
Wilkens, the NBA's career leader in coaching wins and losses, probably coached the Raptors for the final time Wednesday night in a 96-86 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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"It's been a tough year and the season is over and now we've got to move on and decide what we are going to do," Wilkens said.
Wilkens was reluctant to address questions about whether it was his last game.
"We'll find out soon," he said. "I don't have any emotions right now, OK? We'll deal with that when it comes to that."
Rookie Tierre Brown had 16 points and nine assists for the Cavaliers (17-65), who finish the season tied with the Denver Nuggets for the NBA's worst record.
The teams will have the most pingpong balls - 225 - in the May 22 lottery, and therefore the best odds of getting the No. 1 pick, expected to be Akron high school star LeBron James.
"I don't even care about that," said Cavs forward Darius Miles, who autographed eight pairs of sneakers and tossed them into the seats following the game. "It's been a long year."
Juneau-Douglas High School alumnus Carlos Boozer Jr. scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Cavs.
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Toronto, which didn't dress 12 players for any game this season, lost its last eight and finished with its worst record since 1997-98 when the Raptors went 16-66.
Raptors guard Morris Peterson said Wilkens handled the adversity the best he could.
"I think it's on how everything came down on him," Peterson said. "I think under the circumstances he did a good job. He's a Hall of Fame player and coach and he knows what to do. Losing a guy like him is a great loss, you lose a legend."
Rafer Alston scored 23 points for Toronto.
The Cavs, who unveiled a new logo, colors and uniforms for next season, played without leading scorer Ricky Davis, who sprained an ankle in Monday's loss at Detroit.
However, Brown and Smush Parker (17 points) picked up the scoring slack for the Cavs, who led 83-79 with four minutes left.
But Chris Mihm scored on a dunk, Brown hit a jumper and Cleveland pushed its lead back to 91-81 with two minutes remaining.
Alston's 3-pointer closed Toronto within seven before Brown, who signed with Cleveland midway through the year after playing in the NBDL, converted a 3-point play to put the Cavs up by 10 with 1:12 left.
Cleveland's win may have also been the final game for interim coach Keith Smart, who went 9-31 after replacing John Lucas. Smart hopes the team considers him for the full-time position.
"I did what I was supposed to do," Smart said. "I tried to bring along the players and develop them. Maybe I shouldn't be judged on how well we played and won games, but that I can run a team.
"In given time, I'll be able to show that I can put together a nice package."
Notes: The Cavaliers unveiled their new look for next season. The club is returning to wine and gold, their color scheme from 1970-83 and a logo which will include a sword piercing the word "Cavaliers."
Celtics 99, Pistons 92
BOSTON - Tony Delk scored 17 points before sitting out the fourth quarter with the rest of the starters as the Boston Celtics tuned up for the playoffs.
Detroit, the No. 1 seed in the East, will open the playoffs against Orlando. The Celtics had previously clinched the sixth spot in the East, and they will play at Indiana.
Bucks 93, Magic 87
MILWAUKEE - Tim Thomas scored 21 points and Desmond Mason had 19 points as the Milwaukee Bucks won for the eighth time in nine games.
The Bucks secured the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and will face New Jersey in the first round of the playoffs. Orlando got the eighth seed and will play the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Pacers 90, Nets 83
INDIANAPOLIS - Al Harrington finished one assist shy of his first triple-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, as Indiana secured third place in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers had already earned home-court advantage in the first round, but needed a victory or a Philadelphia loss to gain a spot in the standings.
Hornets 92, Hawks 77
NEW ORLEANS - Baron Davis scored 21 points as the Hornets defeated Atlanta to finish the regular season with a five-game winning streak.
Jamal Mashburn had 15 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his third career triple-double.
Timberwolves 95, Grizzlies 87
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Minnesota Timberwolves clinched home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs for the first time in their history with a victory over Memphis.
Kevin Garnett had 19 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists to lead Minnesota, which ended the season 51-31 to take the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference.
Mavericks 93, Spurs 72
SAN ANTONIO - Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points to lead Dallas past San Antonio, giving the Mavericks their first 60-win season.
The victory ensured that Dallas, the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, will have a home-court advantage if it reaches the second round of the playoffs.
Rockets 89, Nuggets 84
DENVER - Steve Francis had 17 points and nine assists, and Yao Ming had 13 points and 16 rebounds as the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets.
Houston won three straight and five of seven to close out the season but missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
SuperSonics 84, Suns 70
SEATTLE - Ray Allen scored 19 as the Seattle SuperSonics topped the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns, looking ahead to the postseason, rested most of their starting lineup for a second straight night. Only Amare Stoudamire saw significant playing time, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds. Joe Johnson led Phoenix with 21 points.
Kings 95, Jazz 84
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Chris Webber scored 15 points, and Bobby Jackson had nine points in the fourth quarter as the Sacramento Kings beat the Utah Jazz in a low-key preview of their upcoming playoff.
The Jazz and the Kings will begin their third playoff series in five years this weekend in Sacramento. Both teams played the regular-season finale conservatively, with reserves getting ample minutes into the tight fourth quarter.
Clippers 107, Trail Blazers 93
LOS ANGELES - Lamar Odom had 24 points and 13 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated Portland, dropping the playoff-bound Trail Blazers to sixth place in the Western Conference.
The loss means the Blazers will play Dallas in the first round.
Lakers 117, Warriors 111
OAKLAND, Calif. - Kobe Bryant scored 44 points as the Los Angeles Lakers earned the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
Shaquille O'Neal recorded his 46th double-double of the season with 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who will face fourth-seeded Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers have won 11 of their last 13.
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