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Hill and Magic continue playoff push

Apr 1, 2007 - 2:12 PM Minnesota (30-42) at Orlando (34-39) 6:00 pm EDT

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- A resurgent Grant Hill and the Orlando Magic are in the thick of the playoff race. Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves are playing themselves out of the postseason race.

The teams headed in opposite directions meet Sunday in an interconference matchup.

Orlando is tied with New Jersey (34-39) for the Eastern Conference's seventh playoff spot.

Hill is averaging 16.8 points in his last five games, up from his season average of 14.1. The 11-year veteran scored 22 points in a 95-87 win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

Meanwhile, Garnett and the Timberwolves are in a downward spiral. Minnesota has lost seven of its last 10, including an embarrassing 114-106 defeat to the Seattle Super Sonics in which it blew a 25-point lead.

The Timberwolves have four teams ahead of them in the Western Conference playoff race and trail the Los Angeles Clippers (36-37) and Denver (35-36) by 5 1/2 games for the last two spots.

The Magic posted a 109-98 win at Minnesota on November 11 as Dwight Howard collected 21 points and 22 rebounds.