The injury-plagued Miami Heat - missing stars Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton and Udonis Haslem - went down to the Charlotte Bobcats for the second time in three days, this time losing 82-92.

And with Dwyane Wade struggling in just his second game back from a shoulder injury, Miami was never in the hunt and will have to settle for second place behind Toronto in the race for home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.

Charlotte was led by Gerald Wallace, who scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, with Walter Herrmann adding 20 points, and Derek Anderson 17 as the Bobcats wrapped up their sixth win in eight games.

For the Heat, Antoine Walker was the top-scorer with 17 points.

The New Orleans Hornets moved to within one game of Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference after edging out the Los Angeles Clippers 103-100 in overtime.

Hornets forward David West bagged 33 points and Devin Brown added 25, while for the Clippers, Elton Brand shot an equal season-high 37 points, including a dunk with 9.5 seconds left in regulation to tie up the game.

Indiana is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons after losing 90-86 to Philadelphia.

Andre Miller led the way with 19 points for the 76ers, while Pacer Jermaine O'Neal could only hit seven of 22 shots on his way to 21 points.

In Atlanta, the Hawks beat the Boston Celtics 104-96 thanks largely to Tyronn Lue's 26 points.

And in Washington, the Wizards lost their fifth straight match - this time 96-92 to New Jersey - but still clinched a playoff berth.

Other games saw Sacramento dispose of Memphis 112-100, and the Chicago Bulls thrash New York 98-69.

NBA results for Tuesday (US)
Charlotte Bobcats 92 Miami Heat 82
Atlanta Hawks 104 Boston Celtics 96
New Jersey Nets 96 Washington Wizards 92
Philadelphia 76ers 90 Indiana Pacers 86
New York Knicks 69 Chicago Bulls 98
Sacramento Kings 112 Memphis Grizzlies 100
Los Angeles Clippers 100 New Orleans Hornets 103