Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

First Posted: 4/15/2013

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Greg Monroe had 27 points and 16 rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons made the most of their home finale by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 109-101 on Monday night.

For both teams, the game was overshadowed by uncertainty off the court. Doug Collins is on his way out as Philadelphia’s coach, and Pistons owner Tom Gores remained noncommittal before the game on the status of team president Joe Dumars and coach Lawrence Frank.

A person familiar with the situation has told The Associated Press that Collins and the Sixers are trying to resolve their future relationship after the coach told them he would not return for a fourth season.

Nets 106, Wizards 101

NEW YORK — Andray Blatche led a bevy of Brooklyn bench players with 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Nets erased an early 17 point deficit to beat Washington.

Kris Humphries, who was the team’s original starting power forward at the beginning of the season before falling out of the rotation, added 20 points and nine boards for Brooklyn. Mirza Teletovic added 14 points and MarShon Brooks chipped in 12 for the Nets.

Bulls 102, Heat 84

ORLANDO, Fla. — Carlos Boozer scored 22 points, Luol Deng added 18 and Chicago snapped a two-game losing streak with a victory over Orlando.

The win, which was the Bulls’ fifth straight over the Magic, also keeps alive their hopes of catching of Atlanta for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. They conclude their regular-season schedule at home Wednesday against Washington. Chicago needs to win that game and for Atlanta to split or lose their final two.

Heat 96, Cavaliers 95

CLEVELAND — LeBron James watched from the bench in street clothes as Norris Cole stripped Kyrie Irving of the ball with 2.2 seconds left to give Miami, resting most of its top players for the playoffs, a win over Cleveland.

Cole finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists. But it was his only steal on Cleveland’s final possession that sealed it.

Bobcats 106, Knicks 95

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gerald Henderson scored 27 points, Kemba Walker had 23 points and a career-high 13 assists and the Charlotte Bobcats defeated a New York Knicks team playing without Carmelo Anthony and a few others 106-95 on Monday night.

The Knicks played only seven players, resting Anthony and others after wrapping up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Tyson Chandler, J.R. Smith, Raymond Felton, Amar’e Stoudemire, Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin also did not play.