RAPTORS HANDLE CELTICS, INCREASE CONFERENCE LEAD

TORONTO» DeMar DeRozan scored 16 points, Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka each had 15 and the Raptors moved closer to clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference by beating the Celtics 96-78 on Wednesday.

Toronto increased its lead over second-place Boston to three games. Both teams have four games remaining.

Kyle Lowry scored 13 points for the Raptors, who earned a split in the season series with the Celtics and clinched the tiebreaker over Boston, based on each team’s record in conference play. Toronto is 37-11 against the East, while Boston is 31-17.

With its 56th win of the season, Toronto matched the franchise record set in 2015-16.

Delon Wright had eight points, eight assists and nine rebounds for the Raptors, who entered having lost five of their previous eight, including the past two. Toronto lost at Boston on Saturday and again at Cleveland on Tuesday.

Marcus Morris scored 21 points, Greg Monroe had 17 and Al Horford 16 for Boston, who were held to their lowest point total of the season. The Celtics scored 80 in a Jan. 18 loss to Philadelphia.

The Celtics shot 3 for 22 from 3-point range, their fewest made 3-pointers of the season.

HIGHLIGHTS

… JJ Redick scored 25 points, and the 76ers won their 12th straight game, eliminating Detroit from playoff contention with a 115-108 victory over the Pistons.… E’Twaun Moore scored 30 points, and Anthony Davis had 28 points and 12 rebounds in a return to form to help the Pelicans rout the Grizzlies 123-95. … Kelly Olynyk scored 19 points, including 15 on five 3-pointers when Miami took the lead for good in the second period, and the Heat beat the Hawks 115-86. … Rookie Jamel Artis had 18 points for his second straight career high to help the Magic beat the Mavericks 105-100.

FOOTNOTES

Lillard out with ankle injury.

Damian Lillard will miss Thursday’s game against the Rockets with a left ankle injury he suffered in a loss to the Mavericks on Tuesday. … The Hornets made significant progress in contract talks with Mitch Kupchak to become president of basketball operations and general manager, and a formal agreement is expected to be reached soon.