Hornets Making Move Toward Playoff Spot

What once looked like a lost season is now a race for the playoffs for the Charlotte Hornets, thanks to a seven-game winning streak.

David Wesley had 24 points and Bobby Phills added 23 for Charlotte in a 90-82 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night at Cleveland.

“A lot of people judge the season you’re having just by points. But I’m all about wins and losses, and making the playoffs,” Phills said.

The Hornets went 1-5 recently when Phills was out with a groin injury, but the winning streak has coincided with his return.

The Hornets are tied with Toronto for 10th place in the Eastern Conference, one game behind ninth-place New York and 1 1/2 games behind Cleveland, which holds the eighth and final spot.

Sacramento 119, Denver 97--Corliss Williamson had a season-high 29 points and Chris Webber had 24 points and 10 rebounds for his 33rd double-double of the season as the Kings defeated the Nuggets at Sacramento.

Jason Williams added 20 points and 11 assists for Sacramento, which set a season high for points while moving 1 1/2 games behind Seattle in the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Portland 102, Dallas 94--Greg Anthony scored 23 points, 17 in the fourth quarter, and hit four three-pointers during a late 16-6 run as the Trail Blazers defeated the Mavericks at Dallas in a meeting of leg-weary teams.

Both were playing their third game in as many nights.

Arvydas Sabonis had 22 points and Brian Grant added 14 for Portland, which had lost four of its previous six games.

Maverick forward A.C. Green played the final three seconds of the first half to extend his league record consecutive-games streak to 1,018.

Toronto 93, New York 90--Charles Oakley played a nearly flawless game and grabbed a crucial offensive rebound with 14 seconds left as the Raptors ended a six-game losing streak by defeating the Knicks at New York.

Oakley boxed out Marcus Camby, the player he was traded for, to grab the most critical rebound of the game. He then passed to Kevin Willis, who was fouled and made both free throws for a 92-87 lead.

Vince Carter scored 21 points for Toronto, including two key three-pointers in the final 72 seconds, and Oakley had 12 points on five-for-five shooting with seven rebounds and six assists.

The loss was the third in a row for the Knicks, who remained in ninth place in the Eastern Conference but had their lead over 10th-place Toronto and Charlotte cut to a half-game.

Around the League

Former Clipper guard James Robinson has signed a contract to play with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the rest of the season, the team announced. Terms were not immediately disclosed. The Wolves had signed Robinson to back-to-back 10-day contracts after the Clippers released him March 18. . . . The Mavericks placed guard Robert Pack on the injured list with a separated left shoulder and activated rookie center Bruno Sundov.