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 Celtics 95, Raptors 93
Jae Crowder sank a fadeaway jumper over a pair of Toronto Raptors
defenders from the corner with 0.8 seconds left, helping the
playoff-bound Boston Celtics lock up the seventh seed in the Eastern
Conference.
Boston (39-42) clinched a playoff spot after a Brooklyn Nets loss
Monday. It is the Celtics' first postseason appearance since they
traded forwards Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Nets in 2013
and their first without Pierce on the roster since 1994-95.
Lou Williams had 16 points for the Raptors (48-33) who remain one
win shy of a setting a franchise single-season record.
- - -
Pacers 99, Wizards 95 (2 Overtimes)
C.J. Miles scored 25 points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the
second overtime, and the Indiana Pacers gained an edge in the battle
for the last Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Indiana (38-43) can earn the eighth and final playoff spot in the
East with a victory on Wednesday at Memphis, or with a Brooklyn loss
at home to Orlando. The Nets get the final spot with a victory
against the Magic and a Pacers loss to the Grizzlies.
George Hill added 24 points for Indiana.
Marcin Gortat scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the
Wizards (46-35), and guard Bradley Beal added 19 points.
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[to top of second column] |
Clippers 112, Suns 101
Chris Paul scored 22 points, and Blake Griffin collected 13 of his
20 points in the first quarter as the Los Angeles Clippers rolled
into the playoffs with their seventh straight win.
With seven players scoring in double figures, the Clippers (56-26)
won for the 14th time in 15 games and pushed a half-game ahead of
the San Antonio Spurs (55-26) and the Houston Rockets (55-26) in the
race for the second seed in the Western Conference. Now, Los Angeles
waits to see whether it will be the second or third seed when the
playoffs open.
If the Spurs win, they will earn the No. 2 seed by virtue of a
tiebreaker (as the Southwest Division champion).
- - - (Editing by Jahmal Corner)
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