"The key event for the Charlotte Bobcats happened due south of here Monday, when the Miami Heat beat the Philadelphia 76ers.

Now there's no doubt: The Bobcats open their first-ever playoff series this weekend in Orlando, against a Magic team that won the Eastern Conference last season.

Ground zero in that series will be wherever Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard stands.

"Every day Dwight plays, he gets better,'' said Bobcats coach Larry Brown, after his team played what amounted to a scrimmage, beating the Nets 105-95 to close the Izod Center as an NBA venue.

The Bobcats (44-37) sat forward Gerald Wallace to rest his sore left shoulder. Brown said he'd love for Game 1 against the Magic to be Sunday, rather than Saturday, to get an extra day of rest for his injured players.

One of the injured, reserve power forward Tyrus Thomas, played for the first time in four games. His dislocated right thumb wrapped in ice afterward, Thomas said it was important to get some playing time before the real games start this weekend. He did well enough, finishing with 13 points, three rebounds and a block in 22 minutes."