NBA roundup
Raptors close on first division title PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The Toronto Raptors are taking the Atlantic Division title north of the border.
Chris Bosh had 23 points and 13 rebounds for his seventh straight double-double to help Toronto win its first division title with a 94-85 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.
The Raptors, who already clinched their first postseason berth since 2002, won the Atlantic when Chicago beat New Jersey 105-74 on Friday night. It marked the first time a Canadian-based team won a division title.
Toronto also kept its slim lead over Miami for third place in the Eastern Conference, which would set the Raptors up nicely for a first-round matchup against injury-ravaged Washington.
The Raptors began the season with 2-8 start that gave little hint the playoffs were a possibility. Toronto’s 43 wins this season are a 16-win improvement for last season’s total of 27, the biggest turnaround in the NBA this season.
Bulls 105, Nets 74
CHICAGO – Ben Gordon scored 27 points and Luol Deng added 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead Chicago.
With the win, the Bulls moved within 21/2 games of Detroit and continue to hold an edge over Cleveland for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Chicago and Cleveland both stand at 46-31, but Chicago owns the tiebreaker.
Heat 88, Celtics 85
BOSTON – Shaquille O’Neal had 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead Miami.
O’Neal scored just two points in the second half and none in the fourth quarter, going 2-for-9 from the line overall as the Celtics rallied from a 14-point deficit to take an 83-80 lead on Leon Powe’s steal and dunk with 2:16 left. But Powe missed a pair of free throws, Eddie Jones made a 3-pointer to tie it 83-all and then James Posey converted a three-point play to put Miami ahead for good.
Timberwolves 99, Knicks 94
NEW YORK – Randy Foye made big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and scored 19 points, and Minnesota blew an 18-point lead before beating New York.
The injury-riddled Knicks lost Stephon Marbury in the first half, then dropped their fourth straight game and 10th in their past 12. They are barely hanging on in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, falling three games behind Orlando with seven games to play.
Pacers 112, Bobcats 102
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Danny Granger made 11 of his first 12 shots from the field and scored 32 points to help Indiana keep its playoff hopes alive.
Suns 103, Hornets 95
OKLAHOMA CITY – Leandro Barbosa scored 26 points, Steve Nash matched his career best with his 49th double-double of the season, and Phoenix wore down injury-depleted New Orleans.
Trail Blazers 85, Rockets 78
HOUSTON – Rookie Brandon Roy scored 24 points and Jarrett Jack added 23 to help Portland beat Houston.
Hawks 115, Bucks 102
ATLANTA – Josh Smith had 28 points and a career-high 18 rebounds to help Atlanta snap a seven-game losing streak.
Warriors 116, Grizzlies 104
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Baron Davis scored 31 points and had nine assists to lead Golden State.
The Warriors’ fourth straight victory keeps them in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Warriors trail the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers by one game.
Cavaliers 99, Wizards 94
WASHINGTON – LeBron James overcame a poor shooting game to score 14 of his 25 points and Cleveland held on.
The Wizards, who would have clinched a playoff berth with a win, gamely tried to lift some of the doom and gloom that has fallen over the franchise this week.
Gilbert Arenas is likely done for the season after having knee surgery Thursday, and Washington’s other All-Star, Caron Butler, broke a bone in his hand Sunday. Neither will return unless the team advances deep into the postseason.