CLEVELAND -- No one will fault the Charlotte Bobcats for taking a moment to savour their second post-season appearance in franchise history. Theyve come a long way in a short period of time. Al Jefferson scored 24 points, including seven in overtime, and the Bobcats clinched a playoff spot with a 96-94 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. Charlotte is in the post-season for the second time in its 10-year history and the first time since 2010. The Bobcats (39-38) are over .500 for the second time this season and hold seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Steve Clifford, the Bobcats third coach in three seasons, praised his teams character. "This is a significant accomplishment for our group of guys, and it puts us in a different place in the league," he said. "The guys in the locker room are excited -- and they should be -- because weve got a good group of guys and a group of guys who are truly deserving." While the Bobcats were celebrating, the Cavaliers slim playoff hopes suffered yet another damaging loss despite a career-high 44 points from Kyrie Irving. Cleveland (31-47) trails eighth-place Atlanta by 3 1/2 games for the final playoff spot in the East. The Bobcats have made significant progress since finishing 7-59 in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season. Charlotte was 21-61 last season. "Words cant describe it," guard Kemba Walker said. "For me, Gerald (Henderson), and Biz (Bismack Biyombo), we were the original guys here. We were on the worst team my first two years, so to go from there to here, its like night and day." Hendersons basket gave Charlotte a 90-89 lead with 1:08 remaining and the Bobcats made four free throws down the stretch to seal the win. Walker scored 20 points and Henderson added 15 for the Bobcats, who have won four straight and swept the four-game season series with Cleveland. "This means a lot, individually and as a team," Henderson said. "I thought we would be good, but I think weve exceeded everybodys expectations -- even our own." Irving, who defended himself before the game over reports hes unhappy in Cleveland, was 16 of 31 from the field, including five 3-pointers. He added eight assists and seven rebounds. The Cavaliers could be eliminated from contention before they play again Wednesday. Irving admitted hell be paying attention to what Atlanta and New York -- the teams ahead of Cleveland -- are doing. "In this game, anything can happen," he said. "I know the Knicks and Hawks play some pretty tough teams coming up. Ill definitely be watching. Well see." Walkers 3-pointer with 32 seconds remaining in regulation gave Charlotte an 82-80 lead, but Irvings jumper 7 seconds later tied the game. Irvings basket gave Cleveland an 89-86 lead with 1:55 remaining in overtime, but Jefferson hit a free throw and Hendersons basket put the Bobcats ahead. Following a Cleveland turnover, Walker missed a jumper, but Cody Zeller got the rebound and passed it out to Walker, who was fouled and made both shots with 17 seconds remaining to make it 92-89. After Dion Waiters sank two free throws, Walker split a pair of foul shots with 11 seconds to go. Following a time out, Irving took the inbounds pass at the top of the key, but his wide-open 3-pointer rimmed out. "Thats as good a look that I had all night," he said. "It was in and out. It was a crucial miss, (but) I can live with that." Hendersons two free throws with 7 seconds left gave the Bobcats a 95-91 lead. Spencer Hawes made a 3-pointer with 4 seconds to get the Cavaliers within one before Jefferson hit a free throw with 2.3 seconds left. He missed the second, but the Cavaliers had no timeouts remaining and Hawes desperation full-court heave was short. NOTES: Charlotte has defeated Cleveland five straight times. ... Bobcats assistant coach Mark Price, who starred for the Cavaliers from 1986-95, got a big ovation when he was shown on the scoreboard in the second quarter. ... The Bobcats are 3-14 all-time at Quicken Loans Arena, the worst record by a visiting team at the 20-year-old arena. Dave Winfield Padres Jersey . Jose Bautista homered for the fifth straight game in the sixth inning, following a two-out solo homer by Melky Cabrera. Edwin Encarnacion led off the seventh with a homer to tie the game 3-3 and, with two out in the seventh, Munenori Kawasaki came through with the two-out single to score pinch-runner Steve Tolleson with what proved to be the winning run. Johnny Manziel Jersey .com) - Devon Johnson ran for a school record 272 yards with four touchdowns and No. http://www.padressale.com/padres-matt-strahm-jersey/ . The top-ranked Djokovic also beat Gael Monfils and then routed Roger Federer en route to his first Abu Dhabi title. "Its always great to win a title. This is the best way to start the 2012 season," Djokovic said. Eric Hosmer Padres Jersey . -- The taxing preseason, which included two games in China, is finally over. Aaron Loup Jersey . Here is a look at all the moves through the first week of NHL Free Agency. The most significant deals will get the full Numbers Game column treatment, like these:Briere-for-Parenteau trade.BOSTON -- Detroits Rick Porcello would rather forget the last time he pitched in Fenway Park. Hes likely to remember his outing Saturday night. Porcello pitched eight solid innings to win his sixth straight start and the red-hot Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox 6-1. It was the 10th consecutive road win for the Tigers, who are a majors best 26-12. Detroit won for the 14th time in 17 games. In his last Fenway start, the right-hander was tagged for nine runs and seven hits -- three homers -- in five innings during a 20-4 loss to the Red Sox on Sept. 4. "I got beat around. Thats the way it is," he said. "Everybody gets their butt kicked and the difference is how well you can rebound from it." On Saturday, Porcello (7-1) gave up one run on six hits, striking out four and walking one. It was the fifth time in six starts hes allowed two or fewer runs. Miguel Cabrera had a homer, RBI single and one of Detroits six doubles, and Victor Martinez added a pair of singles. "Weve been playing some good baseball right now," Cabrera said. "Were aggressive and focused on what were going to do on the field and getting it done." Tigers manager Brad Ausmus felt Porcello had good command of all of his pitches. "That was probably his best outing," he said. "His fastball is always the key, but he threw good curveballs and some changeups." Xander Bogaerts had a solo homer and Mike Napoli three singles for the slumping Red Sox, who have scored just one run in the first two games of the three-game series. Boston lost the opener 1-0 Friday. "Early runs, we find ourselves behind," Boston manager John Farrell said. "One real scoring threat in the fourth inning and we come up empty. That was pretty much the story here tonight." John Lackey (5-3) gave up more than two runs for the first time in five starts, allowing six -- five earned -- on nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. He felt like he was just slightly missing in the strike zone. "Just didnt get some locations there in the fifth inning," he said. "That was pretty much the inning Id like to take bback.dddddddddddd I just didnt locate some balls in that inning for sure." Bostons David Ortiz had a single to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, going 19 for 40 with five homers and eight RBIs during that stretch. With Detroit leading 1-0 in the third, Cabrera hit a fly ball down the right field line, hooking it around the Pesky Pole about 10 to 15 feet and a couple of rows into the seats. "It was lucky shot. Right on the line," Cabrera said, smiling. "In other ballparks its a fly." In the fourth, Torii Hunter had an RBI double and scored on Cabreras single to make it 4-0. The Red Sox were scoreless for 14 straight innings until Bogaerts homered into the seats above the Green Monster leading off the fifth. Rajai Davis RBI double made it 5-1 and chased Lackey in the sixth. Davis scored on Ian Kinslers sacrifice fly. The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs against Lackey in the second, but only managed one run on Alex Avilas fielders choice grounder. Bostons slumbering offence loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, but A.J. Pierzynski grounded weakly to second. NOTES: The Red Sox placed 3B Will Middlebrooks on the 15-day disabled list before the game for the second time this season. This time, he was sidelined with a fractured right index finger he hurt in Fridays loss. He missed 19 games in April with a strained right calf. To take his place on the roster, the team recalled INF Brock Holt from Triple-A Pawtucket. Holt played third and batted ninth, going 0 for 3. ... Switch-hitting Tigers DH Martinez didnt even try to mess with facing the shift his first time up, pushing a soft grounder into left field against Lackey on the first pitch he saw. He came in with excellent career numbers against the right-hander, hitting .407 (11 for 27). ... Boston 1B Napoli made a nice catch on Cabreras foul pop, leaning over the railing and into the first row of seats and Dustin Pedroia made a diving stab of Martinezs liner. ... Tigers RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-2, 3.13 ERA) faces RHP Jake Peavy (1-1, 3.94) in a nationally televised Sunday night series finale. ' ' '