Raptors rout Celtics as Pistons knocked out of playoff race

LOS ANGELES: DeMar DeRozan scored a team-high 16 points as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Boston Celtics 96-78 as the battle for the NBA’s Eastern Conference supremacy heads down to the wire.

Every Raptors player but one recorded at least two points and the Raptors crushed the Celtics to equal their franchise record in wins for the season while extending their lead atop the standings.

The Raptors now have a three-game cushion over the Celtics for first place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference.

“I am very confident we can get it done. We got a great opportunity but we still got to go ahead, be professional, and finish games out,” said all-star guard Kyle Lowry.

Lowry delivered 13 points, five rebounds and five assists as the Raptors improved to 56-22 on the season. It was Lowry’s highest scoring outing in the past four games and even more importantly it halted the team’s two-game losing skid.

Fred VanVleet came off the bench for 15 points while Delon Wright had eight points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Marcus Morris scored 21 points for the Celtics, who dropped to 53-25.

With a win on Wednesday, Boston would have won the tiebreaker between the two teams and moved to just a game back of Toronto for first in the conference.