The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Tim Hardaway made all four of his shots while playing the final 16 minutes of the first half, helping the Indiana Pacers clinch home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs with a 109-93 victory over New York on Tuesday night.

Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest scored 23 points each and Ron Mercer had 17 for the Pacers, who can move up to third place in the Eastern Conference if they finish tied with Philadelphia.

Both teams conclude their regular seasons tonight.

Hardaway had 12 points, four assists and three rebounds before sitting out the entire second half. The Pacers outscored New York 48-36 when the 36-year-old playmaker was on the floor.

Lee Nailon and Shandon Anderson scored 13 apiece to lead the Knicks, who learned earlier in the day that coach Don Chaney was given a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the club through the 2005-06 season.

Bulls 115, 76ers 106

CHICAGO - Eddy Curry made his first eight shots on his way to a career-high 31 points, and Jamal Crawford matched his career best with 33 for Chicago.

Chicago kept the 76ers from clinching home-court advantage in the first round.

It was the third straight loss for the 76ers, who dropped into a tie with Indiana for third place in the Eastern Conference.

Both teams wrap up their regular seasons tonight, and the Pacers have the edge in the tiebreaker if the teams wind up with the same record. A loss today could drop Philadelphia as low as fifth in the East.

Allen Iverson scored 42 points, matching his high for the season.

Heat 103, Raptors 99

TORONTO - Miami ended its season with a victory in what probably was the final home game for Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens.

Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald grabbed a microphone and told the crowd, "We will not stand for this any longer."

Wilkens, a Hall of Famer who holds the NBA coaching record for both wins and losses, is expected to be fired after the season. The Raptors play their final game in Cleveland tonight.

Rasual Butler scored 19 points and Mike James added 15 for the Heat, who ended the season 25-57.

Morris Peterson had a career-high 33 for the Raptors.

Rockets 97, Grizzlies 86

HOUSTON - Steve Francis scored 19 points as the Rockets beat Memphis in their final game at Compaq Center before moving to their $202 million downtown arena next season.

Lakers 126, Nuggets 104

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant scored 20 of his 32 points in the first quarter, and Shaquille O'Neal added 19 points. The win was the seventh in eight games for the three-time defending NBA champions, but they lost any chance of getting home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs when Portland beat Phoenix.

The Lakers will finish fifth or sixth in the Western Conference, depending on what happens Wednesday night in the final games of the regular season. They open the playoffs Saturday or Sunday at Dallas, Minnesota or Portland.

If Minnesota beats Memphis and Portland beats the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers will finish sixth and face Dallas in the first round.

Rookie Jannero Pargo scored a career-high 18 points for the Lakers, who won their 15th straight home game.

Juwan Howard scored 19 points and Marcus Camby had 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Nuggets, who have lost seven straight games and 13 of their last 16.