ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks, behind center Dwight Howard’s 53rd double-double, secured fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 103-76 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.
Howard scored 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Hawks extended their winning streak to four games.
It was the first time in four tries that Atlanta defeated Charlotte, and the result guaranteed the Hawks (43-38) would finish fifth and open the playoffs against the fourth-place Washington Wizards. Atlanta holds the tiebreaker over the sixth-place Milwaukee Bucks (42-39) if the teams wind up tied.
The Hawks also received 10 points and seven rebounds from Paul Millsap and 10 points from Ersan Ilyasova. Atlanta rested its regulars in the fourth quarter, but every active player scored.
Thunder 100, Timberwolves 98
MINNEAPOLIS — Victor Oladipo scored 20 points, including the game-winning jumper with six seconds left, as Oklahoma City held off Minnesota.
Domantas Sabonis had 19 points as six players scored in double figures for the short-handed Thunder, who were without star guard Russell Westbrook as he missed his first game of the season to rest. Oklahoma City is the No. 6 seed in the West.
Kyle Singler tied a season high with 11 points and Norris Cole had 12 points off the bench for the Thunder, who were also without Andre Roberson (rest), Taj Gibson (rest) and Doug McDermott (knee soreness).
Nuggets 109, Mavericks 91
DALLAS — Gary Harris scored 20 points to lead Denver over Dallas in a game that former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo watched from the bench in a Mavericks uniform.
The Nuggets had four others score in double figures — Mason Plumlee (16), Malik Beasley (16), Juan Hernangomez (14) and Jamal Murray (10). Murray added 10 rebounds for Denver, which was eliminated from playoff contention Sunday.
Dallas was without Harrison Barnes, Wesley Matthews and Seth Curry, while the Nuggets didn’t suit up Danilo Gallinari, Emmanuel Mudiay, Kenneth Faried, Will Barton and Jameer Nelson.