Raptors overcome Lillard and Blazers
DeRozan hits record 24 straight free throws in win, James stars as Cavaliers cruise past Wizards
Toronto overcame a huge game by Portland’s Damian Lillard and beat the Trail Blazers 117-115 in a thrilling contest on Friday, extending the Raptors’ home winning streak to 12 games.
The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors stayed two games behind Cleveland for the overall best record in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, with the Cavaliers maintaining that buffer by cruising past Washington.
The Cavs extended their lead in the Central Division to 12 games ahead of Indiana, which lost at Charlotte in a clash of contenders for the lower playoff positions, while Memphis shored up their postseason ambitions with victory over Utah.
Portland’s Lillard scored 50 points, one shy of his career high set last month against Golden State but it was still not enough for the Trail Blazers.
DeMar DeRozan set an NBA record by making 24 straight free throws on his way to a season-high 38 points for Toronto. He was 24 of 25 at the foul line, and his only miss was an intentional one with 0.9 seconds left to run out the clock.
Cleveland star LeBron James was on track for a triple-double before sitting out the fourth quarter, and his efforts helped the Cavaliers beat Washington 108-83.
James finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Cavs as they snapped Washington’s four-game winning streak. John Wall scored 17 for the Wizards. Charlotte’s Kemba Walker scored 33 points and had 10 assists to guide the Hornets past Indiana 108-101.
Walker shot nine of 17 from the field and made all 11 free throws for his 10th 30-point game of the season, while Nicolas Batum added 31 points for the Hornets, who swept the threegame series with the Pacers for the first time in franchise history.
Memphis’ Zach Randolph scored 25 points and grabbed four rebounds in the final minute to secure a 94-88 win for the Grizzlies against Utah.
Randolph, who finished with eight rebounds, was nine of 18 from the field. Lance Stephenson, acquired by the Grizzlies at the trade deadline, had 16 points.
Gordon Hayward’s 18 points led the Jazz, who are sliding from playoff contention after five straight losses.
Boston only just extended their home winning streak to 13 games by edging New York 105-104.
Boston trailed by eight points in the fourth quarter but used a series of mini-runs to eventually take the lead for good on the driving layup by Avery Bradley with 17.7 seconds left.
Atlanta had six players in double figure in their 106-77 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers, completing their first sweep of that season series for 42 years and sending the Lakers to their 10th loss in 11 games.
Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton scored 32 points, becoming the first Bucks player to sink eight three-pointers in a game for five years, as the hosts downed Minnesota 116-101.