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PHILADELPHIA (AP) -The Toronto Raptors are on the brink of 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 close in on 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, needed Chicago to beat New Jersey later in the night to win the Atlantic Division.
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-depleted 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.
Heat 88, Celtics 85
BOSTON (AP) – 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.
Rajon Rondo made a scoop shot to cut the deficit to one, but Udonis Haslem hit a jumper from the left side to give the Heat an 88-85 lead. Both Gerald Green and Sebastian Telfair missed 3-point attempts in the final seconds.
Timberwolves 99, Knicks 94
NEW YORK (AP) – 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, remaining 2 1/2 games behind Orlando with seven games to play.
Kevin Garnett had 12 points and 15 rebounds, and Ricky Davis scored 17 points for the Wolves, who are all but out of the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference after going 7-16 since the All-Star break.
Pacers 112, Bobcats 102
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Danny Granger made 11 of his first 12 shots from the field and scored 32 points to help Indiana keep its playoff hopes alive.
Jermaine O’Neal struggled from the floor, hitting four of 18 shots, but the Pacers got a huge game from Granger and veteran reserve Darrell Armstrong, who scored 16 points. Troy Murphy added 13 points and O’Neal had 14.
Gerald Wallace scored 29 points and had nine rebounds, but the loss dealt a blow to the Bobcats’ slim playoff hopes. Charlotte had climbed back into the picture by winning four of its past five games.
Suns 103, Hornets 95
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – 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.
Phoenix built a 14-point advantage after the first quarter, but struggled to put away the Hornets, who were without injured starters Chris Paul (left foot), Tyson Chandler (left big toe) and Desmond Mason (nose).
David West twice got New Orleans within six points in the third quarter, and the deficit was only 10 entering the final period. Three Suns reserves teamed up for a 9-0 run that iced it midway through the fourth quarter. Kurt Thomas sparked the surge with a layup, and James Jones added consecutive jumpers before Barbosa’s 3-pointer from the top of the key stretched the lead to 91-71 with 7:05 to play.
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