NBA: Title joy for Miami

Carmelo Anthony landed 42 points for the New York Knicks but he could not stop Miami Heat clinching the Southeast Division title with a 93-85 win.

LeBron James scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Dwyane Wade weighed in with 28 points and nine rebounds for the Heat as they snapped the Knicks’ nine-game home winning streak.

Miami, second in the Eastern Conference, could face New York again in the play-offs and will hope to find Anthony in less potent form.

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The Los Angeles Lakers continued to make light of the absence of Kobe Bryant as Andrew Bynum’s 23 points and 16 boards took them to a 112-108 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Ramon Sessions also scored 23 points for the Lakers, who won their fourth game of five without the injured Bryant.

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Derrick Rose bounced back from a nightmare outing against the Heat to score 24 points in the Chicago Bulls’ 100-94 overtime win over the Detroit Pistons.

Rose managed just one basket on Thursday but he was in top form on Sunday, taking the game into extras with a three-pointer 6.4 second from the end of regulation.

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The Orlando Magic sealed their place in the play-offs with a 100-84 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Jameer Nelson pouring in 21.

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The Sacramento Kings edged out the Portland Trail Blazers 104-103, the Toronto Raptors beat the Atlanta Hawks 102-86 and the Boston Celtics saw off the Charlotte Bobcats 94-82.

There were also wins for the New Orleans Hornets and the Denver Nuggets.