Bobcats boost hopes for playoffs with win

Kemba Walker made the only field goal for either team in overtime, and the Charlotte Bobcats won their fifth straight Wednesday night and moved into position for the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 94-88 over the Washington Wizards.

Walker made a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws in the extra session, and Al Jefferson added two free throws to account for all of the Bobcats’ post-regulation scoring. Charlotte went 1 for 7 from the field, while Washington was 0 for 8 and got its only point from a free throw by John Wall with 34 seconds remaining.

Jefferson finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds, and Walker had 17 points and 12 assists, for the Bobcats, who have their longest winning streak since March 2010 - the only other season the franchise has made the playoffs.

The win left the Bobcats and Wizards both at 40-38 with four games remaining, but Charlotte won the season series 3-1 and therefore holds the tiebreaker. Both teams want to stay out of seventh or eighth to avoid a first-round series against the two conference powerhouses, the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers.

AP