INDIANAPOLIS // Lance Stephenson finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists as Indiana beat Oklahoma City 102-97 on Sunday to move a step closer to clinching home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Paul George hit the go-ahead three-pointer with just over two minutes left for the Pacers who climbed a half-game ahead of Miami, which was idle Sunday, for the top seed in the East.
“We’ve been steadily improving,” Indiana’s David West said. “We have to keep our focus and start the playoffs strong.”
The Pacers, who lost at Miami on Friday, finished with the NBA’s best home mark at 35-6 and will complete the regular season Wednesday at Orlando.
The Heat play in Washington on Monday and host Philadelphia on Wednesday, but it’s Indiana who own the tiebreaker and control their own destiny.
Stephenson posted his NBA-leading fifth triple-double of the year. George tallied 20 points and 12 rebounds, while West scored 21 as the Pacers won for just the third time in nine games.
Kevin Durant scored 38 while Russell Westbrook added 21 points, nine boards and seven assists for Oklahoma City, which had a three-game winning streak halted. Durant was just two-of-11 from three-point range.
“We gave up too many points,” Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said.
The Thunder will play at New Orleans Monday and host Detroit Wednesday to cap the regular season.
Oklahoma City is two games ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers for the number two seed.
RAPTORS 116, PISTONS 107
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. // DeMar DeRozan scored 14 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, and Toronto tied a franchise record for victories with a win over Detroit.
The Raptors (47-33) had already clinched the Atlantic Division, and the victory over Detroit was their 10th in 14 games. Toronto has reached the 47-win mark for the third time. The Raptors went 47-35 in 2001 and 2007.
Kyle Lowry scored 28 points for Toronto before fouling out with 5:51 remaining.
GRIZZLIES 102, LAKERS 90
LOS ANGELES // Mike Conley scored 24 points and Memphis pulled away in the third quarter to beat Los Angeles, moving the Grizzlies a game ahead of idle Phoenix in the race for the final Western Conference playoff berth.
Marc Gasol added 18 points and 15 rebounds and Mike Miller had 13 points for the Grizzlies, who head to Phoenix for a showdown with the Suns on Monday night. Gasol hugged his brother Pau after the game; Pau has been out for the Lakers with vertigo.
TRAIL BLAZERS 119, WARRIORS 117, OT
PORTLAND, Ore. // LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points, including the go-ahead jumper in overtime, and Portland defeated the Warriors despite a season-high 47 points from Golden State’s Stephen Curry.
Aldridge’s jumper with 39.9 seconds to go gave the Blazers a 118-117 lead. Damian Lillard added a free throw for Portland before Andre Iguodala missed a 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left and Wesley Matthews grabbed the rebound for the Blazers. Matthews added 24 points for Portland, which has won four straight and eight of its past nine games.
KINGS 106, TIMBERWOLVES 103
SACRAMENTO, Calif. // Ray McCallum hit back-to-back 3-pointers in a pivotal stretch midway through the fourth quarter, DeMarcus Cousins had 35 points and 15 rebounds, and Sacramento beat Minnesota.
The Kings trailed by 11 in the third quarter and were down 82-81 before going on an 11-2 run to go in front for good. Cousins, who had his eighth straight double-double, started the surge with a thunderous dunk and McCallum followed with his 3s, one from the left corner and the other from the right.
NETS 97, MAGIC 88
NEW YORK // Mirza Teletovic scored a team-high 20 points and Joe Johnson and Mason Plumlee each added 17 and Brooklyn beat Orlando.
Deron Williams had 16 points, five assists and four steals for the Nets, who have a two-game lead for the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race over the idle Washington Wizards.
Tobias Harris scored 18 points for the Magic, who have lost their past two games.
KNICKS 100, BULLS 89
NEW YORK // Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 20 points and New York, a night after being eliminated from playoff contention, beat Chicago.
No longer with any hopes of their own, the Knicks snapped the Bulls’ seven-game winning streak and dropped them back into a tie with Toronto for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with two to play.
Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith each had 17 points for the Knicks, who were eliminated Saturday when Atlanta beat Miami, ending New York’s run of three straight postseason berths.
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