BOSTON — On Dec. 18, the rebuilding Boston Celtics traded off point guard Rajon Rando.
On Jan. 12, the club dealt leading scorer Jeff Green.
On Feb. 11, forward Jared Sullinger was supposed to be lost for the season with a broken left foot.
On April 12, the Celtics moved to within an Indiana loss of grabbing a playoff spot, trouncing the undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers 117-78 on Sunday.
And Sullinger even came back early to help the late run.
The win, Boston’s third in a row and 18th in the last 27 games, left the Celtics in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and reduced their magic number for clinching a playoff berth to one — pending the outcome of the Pacers’ home game against Oklahoma City later in the day — with two games remaining. They lead the eighth-place Brooklyn Nets by a game and also own the tie-breaker.
The Cavaliers, who will be the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference (and would play Boston if the Celtics are seventh), played without the resting LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and J.R. Smith.
Guard Isaiah Thomas came off the bench and led seven Celtics in double figures with 17 points, adding six assists.
Bucks 96, Nets 73
MILWAUKEE – Ersan Ilyasova scored 21 points and the Bucks punched their ticket to the playoffs. Owners of the NBA’s worst record a year ago, the Bucks will head into the postseason with the sixth seed in the East.
The Nets’ loss, coupled with a victory by Boston, leaves Brooklyn in the eighth spot in the East, a half-game above ninth-place Indiana, which hosts Oklahoma City later Sunday.
Center Brook Lopez led the Nets with 12 point and 10 rebounds. Guard Jarrett Jack added 11.
Pistons 116, Hornets 77
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Jodie Meeks fired in 24 points off the bench to help Detroit cruise past depleted Charlotte.
Meeks, a shooting guard, reached the 20-point mark for the fourth time as Detroit won by its largest margin of the season. Its previous best was a 28-point victory, 106-78, over Charlotte on Feb. 10.
Rookie forward Noah Vonleh achieved career highs with 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Hornets, who have lost four straight and 14 of their last 19.