Cavaliers put a hurt on Raptors
LeBron James scored 27 points, the last coming on a sensational layup, and the Cavaliers gave the Toronto Raptors another reminder of what could lie ahead in the playoffs with a 112-106 victory last night in Cleveland.
James added nine rebounds, six assists and helped put the Raptors away down the stretch with an artistic threepoint play.
It was Cleveland’s second win in two weeks over the Eastern Conference’s top team. The Raptors carry a twogame lead over the second-place Celtics into tonight’s showdown in Toronto. This time, the Cavaliers were much healthier than when they beat the Raptors on March 21 despite missing five rotational players and coach Tyronn Lue.
Jose Calderon added 19 points and Kevin Love had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavs, who are 9-1 since March 17. DeMar DeRozan scored 19 and Jonas Valanciunas 17 for Toronto.
Warriors 111, Thunder 107 — Kevin Durant scored 34 points while being booed throughout the game, leading visiting Golden State to a victory over Oklahoma City.
Klay Thompson added 20 points for the Warriors, who evened the season series at 2-2 despite guard Stephen Curry missing his sixth straight game with a left MCL sprain.
76ers 121, Nets 95 — J.J. Redick scored 19 points and Ben Simmons had 15 points and 12 rebounds to lead host Philadelphia to its 11th straight victory, over Brooklyn.
Neither Simmons nor Redick played in the fourth quarter for Philadelphia, which won its third consecutive contest without All-Star center Joel Embiid. Embiid had surgery on Saturday after suffering an orbital fracture in his left eye in Wednesday’s 118-101 win over the Knicks.
Rockets 120, Wizards 104 — James Harden had 38 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, leading host Houston over Washington.
Wizards coach Scott Brooks said before the game that Harden, whom he coached for three years in Oklahoma City, is deserving of the league’s MVP award this season. Harden then showed again why, just missing his fifth triple-double of the season.
Magic 97, Knicks 73 — Mario Hezonja scored 19 points, Jamel Artis added 16 off the bench, and visiting Orlando beat New York.
Reserve Shelvin Mack had 12 points and Nikola Vucevic had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Heat 101, Hawks 98 — Hassan Whiteside’s tip-in with a minute left put Miami up for good, Josh Richardson blocked a potential go-ahead shot in the final seconds and the hosts clinched their 20th playoff spot in 30 seasons by rallying to beat Atlanta.
Mavericks 115, Trail Blazers 109 — Dennis Smith Jr. scored 18 points, including a highlight-reel dunk to help keep lottery-bound Dallas ahead in a win over visiting Portland.
Elsewhere in the NBA — Mavericks center Nerlens Noel and Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha have been suspended five games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program . . . .
Nets forward Quincy Acy ($25,000) and Pistons center Andre Drummond ($15,000) were fined for a shoving match that resulted in their ejections.