Hot half saves Raptors
MEMPHIS, Tenn. The Toronto Raptors were teetering on the edge of their winning streak ending, facing a 17-point, second-half deficit.
A 3-point shooting show erased any worries.
The Raptors converted 10 of 17 shots from outside the arc in the second half, including 7 of 12 in the fourth to pull away from the Memphis Grizzlies for a 122-114 victory on Tuesday night.
“We had a real gut check at halftime there,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said after Toronto trailed 71-59 at the break. “We weren’t really doing the things that we wanted to do, and then we came out and played a lot better in the second half.”
Kyle Lowry had 24 points and six assists, and Fred VanVleet added 18 points to lead the Raptors. VanVleet made all six shots on the night, including three from outside the arc in the fourth.
“We know I haven’t been shooting the ball well,” VanVleet said. “That’s no secret. So, to get back on track a little bit is always fun.”
Kawhi Leonard finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Serge Ibaka scored 16 points as the Raptors won their sixth straight and maintained the best record in the NBA (18-4).
Marc Gasol led Memphis with 27 points, making 10 of his 14 shots. Mike Conley added 20 points and six assists.
NUGGETS 117, LAKERS 85
DENVER — Paul Millsap, Jamal Murray and Malik Beasley scored 20 points apiece, and the Denver Nuggets rolled to their biggest victory ever over the Los Angeles Lakers.
PISTONS 115, KNICKS 108
DETROIT — Blake Griffin scored 30 points and Stanley Johnson added 21 to lift Detroit over New York.
Allonzo Trier scored 24 points for the Knicks, who had won a season-high three in a row.
PACERS 109, SUNS 104
PHOENIX — Bojan Bogdanovic sank the go-ahead 3-pointer with 31 seconds to play and Indiana with a victory over Phoenix.
After Bogdanovic’s longrange basket, Devin Booker’s attempt at a game-tying 3 barely rimmed out. Darren Collison’s two free throws wrapped up the scoring.
HAWKS 115, HEAT 113
MIAMI — Taurean Prince scored 18 points, Trae Young finished with 17 points and 10 assists and the Atlanta Hawks held off the Miami Heat 115-113 on Tuesday night to snap a sevengame road slide.
The Hawks are 2-0 against Miami this season and 3-16 against everyone else.
Josh Richardson led Miami with 22 points, but his potential winning 3-pointer with 3 seconds left — a wide-open look — bounced off the rim.