Cavs take bite out of Raptors again
LeBron James scored 27 points, the last coming on a sensational layup, and the Cleveland Cavaliers gave the Toronto Raptors another reminder of what could lie ahead in the playoffs with a 112-106 victory on Tuesday night.
James added nine rebounds, six assists and helped put the Raptors away down the stretch. It was Cleveland’s second win in two weeks over the Eastern Conference’s top team.
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.
James still isn’t sure what the postseason may bring for Cleveland, which has eliminated Toronto in each of the past two postseasons.
“We don’t know what we can become,” James said. “We have no idea. But right now we’re playing good ball and we want to try to continue that. But we don’t know what we can become. We have not been whole all year.”
DeMar DeRozan scored 19 and Jonas Valanciunas 17 for Toronto, which faces Boston — two games back of the first-place Raptors in the Atlantic Division race — today.
JAZZ 117, LAKERS 110 >> Ricky Rubio had 31 points, eight assists and six rebounds, leading Utah to its third consecutive victory. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 28 points and Kyle Kuzma had 26 for the Lakers. NUGGETS 107, PACERS 104 >> Nikola Jokic scored 30 points, Jamal Murray hit a clutch 3-pointer late and Denver pulled within a half-game of New Orleans for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Nuggets trail Minnesota by a game for the seventh spot and have two of their final four games against the Timberwolves.
HEAT 101, HAWKS 98 >> Goran Dragic had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Josh Richardson blocked a potential goahead shot in the final moments, and Miami clinched its 20th playoff berth in 30 seasons.
MAGIC 97, KNICKS 93 >> Mario Hezonja scored 19 points as Orlando won the matchup between two lottery-bound teams.
BULLS 120, HORNETS 114 >> Lauri Markkanen scored 24 points and Sean Kilpatrick added 21 off the bench to lead Chicago. MAVERICKS 115, PORTLAND 109 >> Dennis Smith Jr. scored 18 points as Dallas delayed Portland’s hopes of clinching home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
BUCKS 106, CELTICS 102 >> Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points and had a key block with 53 seconds left, and Milwaukee held off short-handed Boston to clinch a playoff spot. 76ERS 121, NETS 95 >> J. J. Redick scored 19 points to lead Philadelphia to its 11th straight victory. ROCKETS 120, WIZARDS 104 >> James Harden had 38 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, leading Houston to victory.
SUNS 97, KINGS 95>> Josh Jackson scored 28 points as last-place snapped a 15game losing streak. CLIPPERS 113, SPURS 110 >> Tobias Harris scored 31 points and Los Angeles rallied in the fourth quarter to keep its slim playoff hopes alive.
LEAGUE HANDS OUT DRUG SUSPENSIONS >> Dallas Mavericks center Nerlens Noel and Utah Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha were suspended five games each for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program. Noel’s ban will cover the final five games of the season for the lottery-bound Mavericks. Sefolosha, who had surgery on the MCL in his right knee in January and hasn’t returned, will have his suspension begin with the next regular-season or playoff game he is eligible and physically able to play.