Lou Williams scored 29 points and DeMar DeRozan added 24 as the Toronto Raptors put the Miami Heat on the brink of playoff elimination with a 107-104 victory on Saturday.
Greivis Vasquez and Kyle Lowry scored 12 points each 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 respectively in the Eastern Conference race. Goran Dragic scored 22 points for Miami, and Hassan Whiteside finished with 16 points and 18 rebounds.
Photo: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY
However, Whiteside also missed 12 free throws, going four for 16, and the Heat went 24 of 44 from the line.
Williams hit a three-pointer 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 to reach the 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, and Klay Thompson made three three-pointers in the final 4 minutes as 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 three-pointers, went 11 of 21 from the floor and had seven assists to help the Warriors complete a four-game sweep of Minnesota. Thompson had 23 points, Draymond Green added 13 points and 14 rebounds, and Harrison Barnes had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Andrew Wiggins had 17 points, six rebounds and nine assists for Minnesota. The Timberwolves have dropped 10 straight to fall to 16-64.
In other games, it was:
‧ Knicks 80, Magic 79
‧ Clippers 94, Grizzlies 86
‧ Jazz 111, Trail Blazers 105
‧ Bulls 114, 76ers 107
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