Raptors nip Heat, clinch homecourt advantage
MIAMI — Lou Williams scored 29 points, DeMar DeRozan added 24 and the Toronto Raptors put the Miami Heat on the brink of playoff elimination with a 107- 104 victory Saturday night.
Greivis Vasquez and Kyle Lowry each scored 12 points and Patrick Patterson had 11 for the Raptors, who clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Dwyane Wade scored 30 points for the Heat, who can only get to 37 wins — the number that Brooklyn and Boston are already at, putting them in the No. 7 and No. 8 spots in the Eastern Conference race.
Williams hit a 3pointer with 31.2 seconds left to put the Raptors up by five, and that just about sealed not just the game but Miami's playoff fate. The Heat must win their last two games, and get a ton of help t o reach t he postseason for the seventh straight year.
It was Toronto's first road win over the Heat since Nov. 19, 2008, ending a 10-game slide on Miami's home floor. The win was Toronto's 48th of the season and 22nd on the road, both tying franchise records.
WARRIORS 110, TIMBERWOLVES 101
Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 34 points in the first half, Klay Thompson made three 3- pointers in the final 4 minutes and Golden State set yet another franchise record.
The Warriors broke their franchise record with their 37th home win. They have lost only twice at home and lead the NBA with a 65-15 record.
Curry made five 3pointers, went 11 of 21 from the floor and had seven assists to help the Warriors complete a fourgame sweep of Minnesota. Thompson had 23 points, Draymond Green added 13 points and 14 rebounds, and Harrison Barnes had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
CLIPPERS 94, GRIZZLIES 86
J. J. Redick and Blake Griffin scored 18 points each and Los Angeles pulled away to beat Memphis, taking a step toward securing home- court advantage for the playoffs.
DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and 16 rebounds and Chris Paul had 15 points and 14 assists t o help t he Clippers win their fifth in a row.
They could finish anywhere from second to sixth in the tightly bunched Western Conference. Wins in their last two games could allow t he Clippers to open their fourth consecutive playoff appearance at home.