CLEVELAND — The Charlotte Bobcats are headed back to the NBA playoffs for just the second time in club history after a 96-94 overtime victory over Cleveland Saturday. Al Jefferson scored seven of his 24 points in the extra period and grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds to help Charlotte clinch a post-season spot for the first time since the 2009-2010 season. Kemba Walker scored 20 points and Gerald Henderson added 15 for the Bobcats. Cleveland star Kyrie Irving's career-high 44 points — to go with eight assists and seven rebounds — was in vain as the Cavaliers' playoff hopes dimmed even further. The Cavs trail Atlanta by 3 1/2 games for the eighth and final place in the Eastern Conference with just four games remaining. Except for Irving's outstanding performance, both teams struggled on offense, neither managing to shoot 40 percent from the field. Magic 100, Timberwolves 92: Rookie reserve guard Victor Oladipo had 16 points, including 10 in the decisive fourth quarter as the Orlando Magic (22-55) snapped a three-game losing streak. The lead changed hands five times in the fourth quarter, before Oladipo hit a three-pointer with 4:03 remaining to give Orlando the lead for good. The Timberwolves, who beat the Miami Heat in double overtime on Friday, were without their three leading scorers, Kevin Love, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic. Bulls 96, Wizards 78: Guard D.J. Augustin scored 25 points as the Chicago Bulls used a dominant first half to win their fifth straight game in a canter over the Washington Wizards. Augustin made six three-pointers and Joakim Noah recorded his fifth straight double-double for the Bulls (45-32), who led by 28 points in the first half and 52-26 at halftime. Pistons 115, Celtics 111: Reserve guard Rodney Stuckey had 26 points as the Detroit Pistons staved off playoff elimination with a home victory over the short-handed Boston Celtics. Pistons center Andre Drummond notched his fourth consecutive double-double and Eastern Conference-high 52nd this season with 19 points and 20 rebounds. Nets 105, 76ers 101: Guard Deron Williams had 19 points and nine assists as the Brooklyn Nets held off a furious finish by the Philadelphia 76ers. The Nets (42-34) won their second straight, snapped a three-game road losing streak and improved to 32-13 since opening the season 10-21. Raptors 102, Bucks 98: Guard DeMar DeRozan scored 15 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter as the Toronto Raptors pulled away late for a road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Raptors shot 44 percent from the field but made 12 of 27 from long distance and were 18-for-22 from the free throw line. — Reuters
