Celtics ‘hold on’ to snap Warriors’ winning streak

Raptors edge weakened Grizzlies

OAKLAND, California, April 2, (AP): Stephen Curry missed a long 3-pointer to tie it with 5.3 seconds left as the Golden State Warriors suffered their first home defeat in more than 14 months Friday night.

The Warriors lost 109-106 to the Boston Celtics to snap an NBA-record 54-game home winning streak in the regular season at Oracle Arena that included 36 straight home wins to start this season. Golden State hadn’t lost at home since a 113-111 overtime defeat to the Bulls on January 27, 2015.

Isaiah Thomas made a driving layup with 8.3 seconds left on the way to 22 points for Boston.

Curry finished with 29 points for the Warriors (68-8), who must win five of their final six games to break the 1995-96 Bulls’ record of 72 wins. Curry’s final look from long range fell short on a night he had been spectacular 8 of 14 from beyond the arc. Harrison Barnes grabbed the offensive rebound and missed on a desperation heave with 0.2 seconds left.

Cavaliers 110, Hawks 108, OT In Atlanta, LeBron James had 29 points to pass another Hall of Famer on the NBA’s career scoring list as the Cleveland Boston Celtics’ Avery Bradley (0) drives past Golden State Warriors’ Anderson Varejao during the second half of an NBA basketball game on April 1 in Oakland,

California. (AP) Marcus Morris led the Pistons with a season-high 29 points, while Andre Drummond had 12 points and 17 rebounds.

Knicks 105, Nets 91 In New York, Langston Galloway scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the New York Knicks beat the Brooklyn Nets to split the four-game season series with their city rival.

Derrick Williams had 16 points in place of injured starter Kristaps Porzingis as the Knicks avoided dropping the series for the second straight season. Jerian Grant, also getting a start because of injury, finished with 14 points and Carmelo Anthony scored 13.

Porzingis has a strained right shoulder and Jose Calderon is out with a deep thigh bruise. It’s unclear if either will play again this season.

Sean Kilpatrick scored 17 points and Brook Lopez had 16 in outplaying twin brother Robin on their 28th birthday, but the Nets fell apart in the fourth quarter of their fourth straight loss.

Bucks 113, Magic 110 In Milwaukee, Jabari Parker made a driving basket with 10.1 seconds left to put Milwaukee ahead and Tyler Ennis hit two free throws that sealed the Bucks’ win over the Orlando Magic.

Parker finished with 26 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and Greg Monroe and Khris Middleton each added 18 points as the Bucks snapped the Magic’s three-game winning streak.

Nikola Vucevic scored 22 points on 10of-13 shooting and Victor Oladipo added 18 for the Magic.

Raptors 99, Grizzlies 95 In Memphis, Tennessee, DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points and Kyle Lowry added 22 as the Toronto Raptors held off the Memphis Grizzlies.

Terrence Ross was key in the fourth quarter, scoring all 12 of his points in the final period, making four 3-pointers in the fourth.

Jonas Valanciunas had 11 points, 14 rebounds and a career-best seven blocks as the Raptors won their second straight and third in the past four.

Zach Randolph led seven Memphis players in double figures with 16 points as the Grizzlies lost their fifth straight.

Jazz 98, Timberwolves 85 In Salt Lake City, Gordon Hayward scored 22 points as the Utah Jazz defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves to hold on to their place in the Western Conference playoff race.

The Jazz (38-38) are tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the final two slots and are a full game ahead of the Houston Rockets.

Andrew Wiggins paced Minnesota with 24 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 17 and 11 rebounds.

Heat 112, Kings 106 In Sacramento, California, Luol Deng made a 3-pointer with 45.7 seconds left as the Miami Heat held on to beat the Sacramento Kings, avoiding a second straight late-game collapse.

Two nights after blowing a big lead and losing in overtime to the Lakers, the Heat nearly let another one get away before Deng’s shot from the left corner halted Miami’s slide and helped move coach Eric Spoelstra’s club one step closer to the playoffs despite being without leading scorer Dwayne Wade.

Wade was injured during Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers and watched the game from Miami’s bench in street clothes.

Gerald Green started in place of Wade and scored a season-high 30 points.

Darren Collison scored 26 points for Sacramento.

Wizards 106, Suns 99 In Phoenix, Markieff Morris overcame a rude welcome in his Phoenix return by scoring 21 points to help the Washington Wizards beat the Suns.

John Wall added 22 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists, and Brandon Beal scored 21 points for the Wizards, who moved within 2 1/2 games of idle Indiana for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Morris, whose tumultuous 4 1/2-year Phoenix stint ended when he was dealt to the Wizards on Feb 18, was booed in introductions and every time he touched the ball. But he shot 8 of 14 and grabbed nine rebounds as the Wizards rallied to snap a two-game losing streak.

Mirza Teletovic had 24 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for the Suns, who got 14 points on 6-of-22 shooting by rookie Devin Booker in their fifth straight loss.