Toronto has extended its lead in the NBA's Atlantic Division by ending Portland's winning streak at five, beating the Trail Blazers 110-103 on Thursday as Kyle Lowry led the way with 30 points.
The Raptors have won 13 of their past 14 games and moved 5-1/2 games clear atop the Atlantic, and are now a dozen games clear of third-placed New York, which came back from a big deficit at Detroit only to be beaten by three late three-pointers.
Toronto's DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points for the Raptors, who made 12 of their 19 three-point attempts in the game, with Lowry sinking a season-best seven.
Damian Lillard had 27 points and 11 assists for the Blazers, who were within five points with just under a minute to play but could not bridge the gap.
Detroit gave up a 27-point lead before Anthony Tolliver and Reggie Jackson got them out of jail with a trio of big three-pointers late in the fourth quarter.
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The Knicks rallied from the big second-quarter deficit and took a 97-95 lead. Detroit got back in front, and Jackson hit the threewhich sealed an unconvincing victory for the Pistons.
Jackson finished with 21 points, and Stanley Johnson added 22 and nine rebounds.
Robin Lopez had 26 points and 16 rebounds for New York, which lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Houston handed Phoenix a sixth successive defeat, with Corey Brewer's 24 points offsetting a quiet night by James Harden and steering the Rockets to a 111-105 victory.
Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, hitting three pivotal three-pointers in the last six-plus minutes, to lead the Lakers to a 99-95 win at New Orleans.
