Raptors deal blow to Mavericks
TORONTO 94 DALLAS 86
DALLAS — DeMar DeRozan and Serge Ibaka scored 18 points apiece as the Toronto Raptors won their fifth straight game, 94-86 over the Dallas Mavericks.
The Raptors, who came back from 15-point deficits to win each of their previous two games, made it easier on themselves Saturday. Toronto scored the game’s first seven points and never trailed in dealing the Mavericks’ playoff hopes a damaging blow.
Harrison Barnes scored 23 points for Dallas, which missed 18 of its first 22 3-pointers and finished just seven of 28 from behind the arc.
Patrick Patterson added 14 points for Toronto, including a perfect 4 for 4 on 3-pointers.
The Mavericks fell four games behind Denver for the final playoff spot in the West.
Toronto led by as many as 16 points in the first half and by 15 early in the fourth quarter before a 10-0 Dallas run made things more interesting.
Dorian Finney-Smith’s free throws with 7:57 to go brought the Mavs within 79-74, the closest they had been since 7-2 early in the game. But Ibaka made consecutive jumpers to restore a ninepoint lead, and Dallas got no closer than six after that.
The Raptors had their biggest lead at 42-26 in the first half. Barnes scored Dallas’ last 11 points of the half to help cut into the lead, but Toronto led 54-44 at the break.
J.J. Barea’s long 3 at the thirdquarter buzzer again brought Dallas within 10 at 74-64.
Raptors coach Dwane Casey said he was hopeful that guard Kyle Lowry would return from wrist surgery before the end of the regular season.
“I know he’s doing a lot of conditioning, a lot of work to keep his body in shape,” Casey said. “Just let him rehab, let him do his thing and trust our medical people.” Lowry has missed the last 16 games.
Seth Curry with 11 points and Yogi Ferrell with 10 were the only other Mavericks in double figures. Nerlens Noel started his second game in a row at centre for the Mavericks, who have gone to a big lineup. They have moved Dirk Nowitzki to power forward, Barnes to small forward and Curry to point guard.
The Mavericks took their 41st loss of the season. Their next loss will end the NBA’s second-longest streak of .500 or better seasons — currently at 16 seasons.