Allen Iverson had 38 points and nine assists as the Philadelphia 76ers almost squandered a big lead over the Celtics before prevailing 97-93 in Boston to keep their playoff hopes alive on Sunday.

The 76ers moved to within three games of first place Celtics in the Atlantic Division, and are one game ahead of Orlando for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Samuel Dalembert added 18 points and 15 rebounds for the 76ers, who were without the injured Chris Webber for the third straight game.

Iverson played 44 minutes for the Sixers and also had six steals, despite a strained groin that caused him to miss the fourth quarter of the team's previous game against Dallas.

Paul Pierce led Boston with 26 points and 13 rebounds and Ricky Davis added 27 points, but the Celtics lost for the fourth time in five games.

Antoine Walker missed the game with a bruised knee.

In other games, Stephen Jackson and Anthony Johnson both scored 15 points as the Indiana Pacers secured an important 79-76 win over the Washington Wizards.

Indiana used a 16-2 fourth quarter run to seal its seventh win in 10 games and strengthen their hold on an Eastern Conference playoff berth. Reggie Miller added 12 points for the Pacers.

Gilbert Arenas led Washington with 22 points and seven rebounds. Larry Hughes and Kwame Brown had 12 points and eight rebounds.

In Milwaukee, Michael Redd scored 32 points as the Bucks ended an eight-game losing streak with a 106-102 win over the New York Knicks.

Desmond Mason added 20 points for the Bucks, while Mo Williams added 18, including four crucial late free throws.

In Sacramento, Kevin Garnett had 30 points and 13 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves stopped the Kings 112-100.

Latrell Sprewell added 23 points for the T-Wolves, who sit ninth in the Western Conference standings.

Sam Cassell added 16 points for Minnesota.

Peja Stojakovic led Sacramento with 25 points.

In Cleveland, LeBron James had 37 points and 10 rebounds as the Cavaliers knocked off the Dallas Mavericks 100-80.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 21 points and 16 rebounds for the Cavaliers.

In Toronto, Chauncey Billups scored 26 points as the Detroit Pistons beat the Raptors 113-103.

Richard Hamilton added 19 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds for the Pistons, while Rasheed Wallace chipped in with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

Jalen Rose and Morris Peterson both scored 22 points for the Raptors, six games out of the final playoff spot in the East with just nine games remaining.

In Atlanta, Elton Brand scored a season-high 33 points as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Hawks 111-91.

Corey Maggette added 25 points for the Clippers, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Josh Childress led the lowly Hawks with 23.

In Oakland, Jason Richardson scored 22 points as the Golden State Warriors beat the Seattle SuperSonics 101-92.

Baron Davis added 19 points and nine assists for the Warriors. Ray Allen led Seattle with 27 points.

In Memphis, Mile Miller scored 22 points as the Grizzlies all but ended the Los Angeles Lakers playoff hopes with a 102-82 win.

Lorenzen Wright added 16 points for Memphis. Caron Bulter led the Lakers with 18 points and eight rebounds.

In Houston, Shawn Marion had 23 points and 18 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns beat the Rockets 91-78.

Yao Ming had 19 points and 12 rebounds for Houston.