Boston Celtics

Raptors beat Celtics to close in on top seed in East

Published Apr. 5, 2018 1:37 a.m. ET

TORONTO (AP) DeMar DeRozan scored 16 points, Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka each had 15 and the Toronto Raptors moved closer to clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference by beating the Boston Celtics 96-78 on Wednesday night.

Toronto increased its lead over second-place Boston to three games. Both teams have four games left.

Kyle Lowry scored 13 points for the Raptors, who earned a split in the season series with the Celtics and clinched the tiebreaker over Boston, based on each team's record in conference play. Toronto is 37-11 against the East, while Boston is 31-17.

With its 56th win of the season, Toronto matched the franchise record set in 2015-16.

Marcus Morris scored 21 points for Boston in its lowest-scoring game of the season.

The Celtics shot 3 for 22 from 3-point range.

76ERS 115, PISTONS 108

DETROIT (AP) - JJ Redick scored 25 points, and Philadelphia won its 12th straight game, eliminating Detroit from playoff contention.

The Pistons had their five-game winning streak snapped, and their defeat clinched a postseason spot for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Anthony Tolliver scored 25 points for the Pistons and went 7 of 8 from 3-point range. Detroit was without star forward Blake Griffin (bruised right ankle) and the 76ers were missing center Joel Embiid (concussion, orbital fracture).

LAKERS 122, SPURS 112, OT

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Kyle Kuzma scored six of his 30 points in overtime and Los Angeles swept the three-game season series against San Antonio.

Kuzma is the first rookie in NBA history with 1,200 points, 450 rebounds and 150 3-pointers in a season. He made a 3-pointer and a sky hook to start overtime and give the Lakers a lead they would not relinquish. Los Angeles outscored the Spurs 14-4 in the period.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points for the Spurs, who lost on back-to-back nights at Staples Center and are tied with Oklahoma City for fifth place in the Western Conference, a half-game behind Utah. The Spurs and Thunder both have three games remaining.

HEAT 115, HAWKS 86

ATLANTA (AP) - Kelly Olynyk scored 19 points, including 15 on five 3-pointers when Miami took the lead for good in the second period, and the Heat beat Atlanta, capping a sweep of back-to-back games between Southeast Division rivals.

Miami rested Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic and James Johnson one day after clinching a playoff berth by beating the Hawks in Miami. Josh Richardson also had 19 points, and Justise Winslow had 18 for Miami.

Taurean Prince led Atlanta with 20 points.

PELICANS 123, GRIZZLIES 95

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - E'Twaun Moore scored 30 points, and Anthony Davis had 28 points and 12 rebounds in a return to form to help New Orleans rout Memphis.

Davis struggled in the previous two games after twisting an ankle in a loss to Portland on March 27. He made 8 of 13 field goals, 11 of 13 free throws and had three blocks and two steals.

The eighth-place Pelicans ended a season-worst four-game losing streak and increased their lead over idle Denver to a full game for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

MarShon Brooks scored 25 points for the Grizzlies.

MAGIC 105, MAVERICKS 100

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Rookie Jamel Artis had 18 points for his second straight career high for Orlando.

Artis was coming off a 16-point game Tuesday night in a victory at New York. Aaron Gordon led the Magic with 20 points without playing in the fourth quarter.

Jalen Jones led Dallas with 15 points. The Mavericks listed seven players out with injuries including Dirk Nowitzki, the 19-year veteran who missed only his second game of the season.