Raptors close season with win
CLEVELAND — Jonas Valanciunas made his first career 3-pointer and the Toronto Raptors closed the regular season Wednesday with a 98-83 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Norman Powell scored 25 points as the Raptors won their first game this season against the Cavs, who rested LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. The Raptors, who sat DeMar DeRozan and Serge Ibaka, open the playoffs at home against Milwaukee.
CELTICS 112, BUCKS 94
BOSTON — Gerald Green scored 18 points, 10 of them in a 25-2 fourth-quarter run, and the Boston Celtics beat the resting Milwaukee Bucks 112-94 in the regular-season finale to claim the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Despite playing without star Giannis Antetokounmpo and two other starters, the Bucks led by as many as 13 points before Boston ran off 14 of the last 16 points in the first half. Isaiah Thomas had 10 of them, including eight straight.
Thomas finished with 13 points and eight assists, but sat out the fourth quarter.
BULLS 112, NETS 73
CHICAGO — Jimmy Butler scored 25 points as the Chicago Bulls beat the Brooklyn Nets in the regular-season finale to clinch the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Paul Zipser added a careerhigh 21 points off the bench as Chicago secured its first playoff appearance under coach Fred Hoiberg.
PACERS 104, HAWKS 86
INDIANAPOLIS — Paul George scored 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Jeff Teague added 19 and the Indiana Pacers clinched a playoff spot by beating Atlanta.
The Pacers completed the regular season on a five-game winning streak to earn the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed. They will face Cleveland in the opening round.
Ersan Ilyasova scored 15 points and Jose Calderon had 12 on a night the Hawks rested five of their top six players.