NBA ROUNDUP : A First: Hornets Make Playoffs

Before the Charlotte Hornets’ inaugural NBA season, owner George Shinn predicted his team would make the playoffs in its fifth season.

Five years later, Shinn’s prophecy came true.

The Hornets earned their first playoff berth with a 119-111 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday night at Charlotte, N.C.

“I felt like with good people and hard work, we could accomplish that,” Shinn said. “I wouldn’t have predicted it if I didn’t think we could do it.”

Johnny Newman led the Hornets on Wednesday with 30 points. Alonzo Mourning had 19 points and 18 rebounds and Larry Johnson added 20 points and nine rebounds.

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New York 105, New Jersey 74--John Starks scored 22 of his 31 points in the first half at New York and the Knicks opened a 1 1/2-game lead over the Chicago Bulls in the race for first place in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks, with their 19th consecutive victory at Madison Square Garden, have two games remaining, including a showdown Sunday against the Bulls.

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Cleveland 111, Indiana 95--Mark Price scored 20 points and John Williams and Danny Ferry each added 18 at Indianapolis as the Cavaliers won their 10th game in a row.

Indiana remained in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, one game ahead of Orlando for the last playoff spot.

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Boston 126, Orlando 98--The Magic is on the brink of elimination from a playoff berth after a rout at Boston.

Orlando must win its remaining two games to have a chance at the last available playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics, with six players in double figures, clinched home-court advantage in the first round, probably against New Jersey.

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Atlanta 119, Washington 98--Dominique Wilkins made consecutive three-point baskets 36 seconds apart in the third quarter to key a 13-3 run and lead the Hawks to a playoff-clinching victory at Landover, Md.

Wilkins had 30 points for the Hawks.

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Philadelphia 107, Miami 97--Hersey Hawkins scored 20 points and Thomas Jordan added 18 as the 76ers won at Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, the NBA is investigating whether the Heat turned Tuesday night’s defeat against the Knicks into a farce by using illegal zone defenses--in apparent response to the officiating.

Coach Kevin Loughery and assistant coach Bob Staak were ejected from a game won by the Knicks, 109-97.

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Denver 137, Dallas 112--LaPhonso Ellis and Chris Jackson had 21 points apiece at Denver as the Nuggets had their biggest offensive showing of the season.

The Mavericks (9-71) need to win one of their last two games to avoid tying the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers for the worst record in NBA history.

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Golden State 132, Sacramento 105--Andre Spencer scored 24 points and Victor Alexander added 23 as the Warriors won at Oakland.