Knicks 109, Nets 98

At least New York can say it won a city championship.

Only Brooklyn has a chance to compete for a real one — though it better play a lot better than this.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 16 points and the Knicks, playing without the injured Carmelo Anthony, beat the Nets on Tuesday night to win the season series between city rivals.

And in an otherwise massively disappointing season, apparently local bragging rights do matter.

"Hell yeah," Knicks guard J.R. Smith said. "I mean, I'm cool with some of those guys over there, so I can still say something when we're in the gym this summer. As long as I can say they didn't beat us that many times, we're good."

The Knicks prevented the Nets from clinching the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and won their third straight in their too-little, too-late strong finish. Amare Stoudemire and Smith each added 14 points.

Anthony had an MRI exam Tuesday that revealed a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He won't play Wednesday against Toronto, the final game of the first season in his 11-year career that won't end with a playoff berth — and potentially his last as a member of the Knicks. He has said he will become a free agent in July.

Marcus Thornton scored 24 points for the Nets, who weren't sharp despite playing starters Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. The other starter, Shaun Livingston, remained sidelined with a sprained right big toe.

The Nets still have a magic number of one for finishing fifth. But they could fall to No. 6 if they lose tonight in Cleveland and Washington beats Boston.

"Tonight was an example of how not to take a step forward. We were off our game offensively, defensively, all phases of the game and that's not how you want to go into the playoffs," Pierce said.

The Knicks would be in the playoffs themselves if they played against everyone else the way they did against the Nets while winning three romps.

The Knicks have defeated the Raptors, Bulls and Nets, currently the East's Nos. 3-5 seeds, in their last three games, and coach Mike Woodson said it was "irritating" that his team would be watching the playoffs from home.

"If we had handled our business early on and didn't let some of the close games get away, we probably wouldn't be standing here. We'd probably be preparing for playoff basketball, but that's not the case," Woodson said. "We put ourselves in this hole and we're going to have to live with it this summer and then try to figure it out next season."

The Knicks led 29-18 after one and the game got fun midway through the second quarter. Stoudemire had a powerful follow dunk over Mason Plumlee, screaming into the rookie's ear afterward. Plumlee responded in the best way possible, dunking on the Nets' next two possessions.

Plumlee finished with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds.

Clippers 117, Nuggets 105

Blake Griffin scored 24 points while picking up his 16th technical, and Los Angeles led all the way in beating Denver for its franchise-record 57th victory of the season.

Chris Paul had 21 points and 10 assists, and J.J. Redick added 18 points in the Clippers' finale at home, where they went 34-7 for another franchise mark. DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and 16 rebounds.

The win kept the Clippers in the hunt for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They would need to win at Portland and Oklahoma City would need to lose to Detroit on Wednesday night for the Clippers to claim the second spot. Otherwise, they will remain the third seed.

Los Angeles will have to get by without Griffin on the road since his 16th tech triggered a league-mandated one-game suspension.

Kenneth Faried led the Nuggets with 21 points and Aaron Brooks added 19. Timofey Mozgov had 18 points and 11 rebounds as Denver's three-game winning streak ended.

Cavs Deng wins NBA citizenship award

Luol Deng has never once forgotten home.

He has spent much of his adult life trying to give back to his native South Sudan, the war-torn African nation the Cavaliers forward and his family fled when he was a young boy.

And while Deng's contributions have touched many, he knows the work will never end.

"I wish I could wake up tomorrow and nobody needs help," Deng said. "But we all know that's not going to happen. I'm just happy to be in the position that I'm in to be able to do the things that I'm able to do."

On Tuesday, Deng was commended for his compassion and dedication when he was named the winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, given annually to an NBA player, coach or trainer for outstanding community service.

Deng has had a long commitment to philanthropic work in South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011 but has been ravaged by ethnic violence. The two-time All-Star, who came to Cleveland in a trade from Chicago in January, recently recorded a public service announcement for EnoughProject.org, urging peace in his homeland.

In a video directed at the nation's youth, Deng says, "Look around you, and reach out. Make peace among those who are fighting. Forgive one another and encourage others to forgive. Build trust with people who fear each other. You are young, and if you are wise, you will build bridges with people your age that will last a lifetime."

The video is a small sample of Deng's attempts to help others.

The 29-year-old also has established The Luol Deng Foundation, a global nonprofit organization using basketball as a platform to bring hope to those less fortunate in Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. His work in Africa has focused on the construction of outdoor courts and initiatives to bring together local communities.

His charity work in the U.S. has been focused primarily on his two NBA homes - Chicago and Cleveland. He has funded holiday events in the cities, providing meals and toys to the needy. He has served as a mentor to the "Lost Boys of Sudan" and supported the NBA's "Basketball Without Borders" program.

Deng is the third Cleveland player to win the award, joining Austin Carr (1979-80) and Eric Snow (2004-05). He also joins an illustrious list of past winners, including Dave Bing, Isiah Thomas, Julius Erving, Magic Johnson, Dikembe Mutombo, David Robinson, Kevin Garnett and Steve Nash.

The award is named after the league's second commissioner.

Deng's journey to pro stardom is almost unbelievable.

One of nine children, he and his family left Sudan and lived as refugees in Egypt before going to England.

Cavs coach Mike Brown was fully aware of Deng's background before the forward came to Cleveland. Brown was thrilled that Deng was honored.

"It's well-deserved," Brown said after practice. "From what he's come from and his life experience is off the charts. He told me about it and I was touched. To see where he is now, and for him to know my job is not done, I was one of the fortunate ones. Because of where I am, I have a platform to help bring awareness for others.

"It's a remarkable thing. I don't know how he does it. You applaud him. Obviously, you applaud his parents for raising him the way they did. It's an amazing story. I would be surprised if his life story doesn't turn into a Hollywood movie deal someday. It's that special."

Deng finds greater reward in helping others.

"It's one of those things when I talk to my parents about it, they'll be very proud," said Deng, who has been slowed by a sore back. "I don't have any kids, but it's one of those things where, when you have a kid and your kid calls home and tells the parents what award he won, they'll be proud that they've done a good job.

"It's all about helping other people and just doing what makes you happy in life."