Philadelphia: Chris Paul scored 25 points and DeAndre Jordan had 17 points and 20 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers cruised to a 119-98 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA on Friday.
J.J. Redick added 19 points for the Clippers, who won their sixth consecutive game to help their chances of home-court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference play-offs.
Rookie Nerlens Noel had career-high 30 points and 14 rebounds for Philadelphia. The 76ers, in rebuilding mode, have the third-worst record in the NBA and own six picks — including two in the first-round — in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Los Angeles had all five starters in double figures in an offensive performance that showed why the Clippers are contenders in the talented West. Matt Barnes scored 15 points and Blake Griffin tallied 10, but they and the rest of the starters just watched in the fourth quarter.
The Toronto Raptors clinched their second straight Atlantic Division title, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 94-83 behind 18 points from Lou Williams and 19 from Jonas Valanciunas.
James Johnson had 17 points, Amir Johnson 11 and Terrence Ross 10 as the Raptors bounced back from two losses and beat the Lakers for the first time since Dec. 8, 2013.
Jeremy Lin scored 18 points and Jordan Clarkson had 14 for the Lakers, who lost for the 11th time in 14 games.
Stephen Curry had 38 points and 10 assists and the Golden State Warriors won their 60th game, matching a franchise record, 107-84 over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Klay Thompson finished with 28 points and Draymond Green added 10 as the Warriors (60-13) won their eighth straight, solidifying their hold on the top spot in the Western Conference.
Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez each scored 20 points, and the Brooklyn Nets ended the Cleveland Cavaliers’ four-game winning streak with a 106-98 victory.
Bojan Bogdanovic added 18 points for the Nets, who held LeBron James to two baskets in the second half and won for the sixth time in eight games as they chase a play-off berth.
James finished with 24 points and nine assists for Cleveland, while Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 26 points, and Kevin Love had 18 points and seven rebounds as it lost for just the second time in 10 games.
DeMarre Carroll scored 24 points and the Atlanta Hawks clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference play-offs with a 99-86 victory over the Miami Heat.
The Hawks wrapped up the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage in the conference play-offs when Brooklyn beat Cleveland 106-98.
Paul Millsap had 21 points and Al Horford had 15 for Atlanta, which never trailed.
In other games Friday, the Detroit Pistons had a 111-97 win over the Orlando Magic, the Washington Wizards edged the Charlotte Hornets 110-107 in overtime, the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Sacramento Kings 102-88, and the Houston Rockets clinched a play-off spot with a 120-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
