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 on Wednesday, they'll 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 percent from the field and their 66 points were a season low. Cavaliers 117, Pacers 109: In Indianapolis, Cleveland clinched the NBA's best record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs by beating Indiana. Getting the home-court edge was especially important because Cleveland has 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. Bucks 98, Magic 80: In Milwaukee, Orlando slipped to a third straight loss by a lowly opponent, beaten easily by Milwaukee. Richard Jefferson scored 24 points for the Bucks in their home finale, providing a late hight note to an otherwise offkey season. The Magice was playing without Dwight Howard and two other starters. Orlando was coming off losses to New York and New Jersey, but is locked in the No. 3 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. Spurs 101, Warriors 72: In Oakland, California, San Antonio kept pace with Houston atop the Southwest Division by crushing Golden State. 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 tiebreaker and get the No. 3 playoff seed, while San Antonio could end up starting the postseason on the road against the Trail Blazers unless Dallas knocks off Houston. The Warriors had just seven available players. Bulls 91, Pistons 88: In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Ben Gordon made a tiebreaking layup with 15 seconds left, and Chicago locked Detroit in the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. The loss means the Pistons will face Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs. The Bulls lead Philadelphia by a half-game for sixth. Chicago overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half. In other games it was: Trail Blazers 113, Thunder 83; Mavericks 96, Timberwolves 94; Nuggets 118, Kings 98; Nets 91, Bobcats 87; Suns 119, Grizzlies 110; Jazz 106, Clippers 85; Raptors 97, Wizards 96.
