Raptors clamp down on Magic
Kyle Lowry scored 25 points and the Toronto Raptors used a strong fourth-quarter defensive effort to beat the Magic, 9386, last night in Orlando.
Toronto limited Orlando to 3-of-19 shooting (15.8 percent) in the fourth quarter, helping the Raptors overcome an eight-point deficit and win for the 12th time in their past 13 games. Serge Ibaka had 14 points and Deion Wright and Norman Powell had 10 apiece.
Shelvin Mack led Orlando with 17 points. Aaron Gordon, returning after missing five games with a concussion, added 16 points. Nikola Vucevic had 15 points and nine rebounds for Orlando, which has lost seven of its past eight.
The Raptors bench did most of the work in the final period. The reserves pressured Orlando all over the floor, forcing the Magic to miss their first 11 shots and commit four turnovers, opening the door for a Raptors comeback.
Timberwolves 123, Clippers 109 — In Minneapolis, Karl-Anthony Towns racked up 30 points and 10 rebounds for his NBA-best 60th double-double and Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points, leading Minnesota past Los Angeles.
Jeff Teague pitched in 20 points and 12 assists for the Timberwolves, who swept the four-game season series and sent the weary Clippers to their fourth consecutive loss.
The Timberwolves pushed their lead over the Clippers to three games. With five losses in their last seven games, the Wolves had fallen into eighth place in the Western Conference.
Pelicans 115, Mavericks 105 — Anthony Davis scored 37 points, and host New Orleans overcame the absence of second-leading scorer Jrue Holiday to beat struggling Dallas.
Rajon Rondo added 19 points and 14 assists, and Ian Clark also scored 19 points for the Pelicans, who are in a tight, seven-team race for one of the final five West playoff spots.
Elsewhere in the NBA — Golden State star Stephen Curry has been medically cleared to resume full practice beginning today with the hope he can return from his latest right ankle injury later in the week. Curry, the two-time MVP, rolled his ankle driving for a layup in a win against the Spurs on March 8. He has missed the last six games . . . .
The NBA fined Gerald Green of the Houston Rockets $25,000 for shoving an opponent. Green was ejected after teammate Chris Paul was pushed down after a foul by Minnesota’s Gorgui Dieng