Raptors nip Cavs in duel of leaders
TORONTO – Toronto’s Kyle Lowry scored a careerhigh 43 points to help the Raptors edge Cleveland 99-97 in Friday’s meeting of rival divisional leaders in the NBA Eastern Conference.
The Raptors moved within two games of the Cavaliers for the overall best record in the East, where other key results between playoff contenders saw Atlanta defeat an undermanned Chicago and Charlotte beat Indiana by the narrowest of margins thanks to a late Kemba Walker basket.
The biggest game in the West resulted in a win for the Los Angeles Clippers against Sacramento to shore up their grip on fourth in the conference.
Toronto’s Lowry tied the score at 97-97 with 51.9 seconds remaining. After J.R. Smith’s miss for Cleveland, the Raptors got the ball with 28.9 seconds remaining, Lowry made a pull-up jumper with 3.8 seconds left to put Toronto back in front.
Following a Cleveland timeout, LeBron James unleashed what would have been a game-winning 3-pointer, but it missed the rim completely as time expired.
Terrence Ross had 15 points for Toronto, which won its 10th straight at home to tie a franchise record previously set across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons. James had 25 points for the Cavaliers. Atlanta ended a run of four straight home defeats by downing injury-hit Chicago 103-88.
Jeff Teague scored 19 points and Al Horford added 18 for the Hawks, who closed within a game of the Southeast Division lead.
Chicago, which had won its previous three, finally saw injuries catch up with them, missing Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose and Nikola Mirotic.
Doug McDermott finished with 20 points for the Bulls.
Charlotte’s Kemba Walker hit the game-winning shot with 2.4 seconds left to lift the Hornets over Indiana 96-95.
Monta Ellis gave Indiana the lead with a layup over Walker with 16.2 seconds to go. Walker then split two defenders to get to the rim and sank a left-handed scoop shot to restore Charlotte’s lead.
The Pacers had one last chance at the buzzer, but Paul George’s shot from the top of the key missed.
Marvin Williams had 26 points and 13 rebounds while Walker finished with 22 points and 10 assists – with nine points in the final 5:08 – for the Hornets, who have won two in a row at Indiana after having lost on the previous 12 visits. George led the way for Indiana with 32 points. Los Angeles’ Chris Paul scored a season-high 40 points and added 13 assists to propel the Clippers past Sacramento 117-107.