Magic 78, Bucks 72
Dwight Howard collected 18 points and 17 rebounds and Jameer Nelson added 17 points as the Orlando Magic edged the visiting Milwaukee Bucks, 78-72, on Tuesday to clinch fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Hedo Turkoglu chipped in 12 points and 11 boards for the Magic, who outrebounded the Bucks, 50-33. Orlando (49-29) will have homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, most likely against Atlanta.
With the loss, Milwaukee (31-46) dropped 3 1/2 games behind the Indiana Pacers (35-43) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. One more loss will eliminate the Bucks from playoff contention.
The Bucks allowed the game's first 14 points but tied it up, 72-72, when Drew Gooden converted a three-point play with 2:01 left. But Howard won a jump ball 15 seconds later and tapped it to Nelson, who buried a jumper to give Orlando back the lead.
Milwaukee had two more chances to tie or take the lead, but Carlos Delfino missed a 3-pointer and Nelson stole a pass from Andrew Bogut, turning the miscue into two points when Turkoglu buried a 22-foot jumper. Howard sealed it with two free throws in the final seconds.
Gooden scored 18 points for the Bucks, who had no starters in double figures.