Raptors Pound Pacers, NBA Roundup

INDIANAPOLIS -- Kyle Lowry pulled out his headband just for fun Monday night. His fashion statement changed Toronto's perspective -- and its fortunes. The All-Star had 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in his second triple-double of the season, leading the Raptors to a 117-98 blowout at Indiana.

"When things are not going so fun, you have got to find some things to make it fun again," DeMar DeRozan said. "We can't be too uptight or too down. We still have to have fun with it and I think Lou (Williams) and Kyle showed that tonight. Just something small like that carries over into the game."

Both Williams and Lowry wore their cotton crowns, and DeRozan considered donning one, too, on what turned out to be a special night for the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors (40-27). Toronto won for only the third time in 13 games, but finally earned its 40th in fewer than 70 games for the first time in franchise history. It also pulled off a season sweep of the Pacers, something last done in 2000-01.

Wizards 105, Trail Blazers 97

There was less than a minute left on the clock, and the Washington Wizards appeared set to hold on to beat the Portland Trail Blazers after letting a 25-point lead dwindle to three, yet there went John Wall, launching himself into the stands, tumbling five rows deep or more, slapping a loose ball back into play.

"I thought he was crazy for a minute," teammate Bradley Beal said. "But that's him. He lays it out on the line, each and every game. ... You can't knock his hustle."

Another teammate, Rasual Butler, took a more pragmatic view of Wall's foray into the courtside seats late in Washington's 105-97 victory Monday, the Wizards' fourth consecutive win.

Celtics 108, 76ers 89

Celtics coach Brad Stevens might soon be hearing some locker-room chatter about his team's playoff push with the way it's been playing. Tyler Zeller scored a career-high 26 points, Avery Bradley had 20 and the Celtics won their season-high fifth straight game, 108-89 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. Brandon Bass added 12 points and Marcus Smart 11 for Boston, which entered the day in a group of four teams separated by one game for the Eastern Conference's final two playoffs spots. Bradley also had 10 rebounds and six assists.

Grizzlies 92, Nuggets 81

The Tony Allen factor is hard to ignore when the Memphis Grizzlies are turning back opponents' rallies. Allen's energy along with a double-double from Zach Randolph helped the Grizzlies pull away from the Denver Nuggets for a 92-81 victory on Monday night. Randolph finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Allen and Marc Gasol added 14 points apiece. Allen had 10 points and eight of his nine rebounds after halftime.

Mavericks 119, Thunder 115

Chandler Parsons and Rajon Rondo were a solid combination on offense for the Dallas Mavericks. And they were tag-team partners for the sequence that sent Russell Westbrook to the bench with six fouls. Parsons scored 31 points, Rondo had 13 assists while drawing a key charge on Westbrook in the final minute, and the Mavericks rallied from 15 down in the third quarter for a 119-115 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. Westbrook came within two rebounds of his seventh triple-double in 10 games, finishing with 24 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. But he picked up his fifth foul pushing off on Rondo on a drive when trailing by two, then got No. 6 immediately after by knocking over Parsons on the inbounds pass with 59.3 seconds left.

Jazz 94, Hornets 66

The Utah Jazz have won 11 of 13 games since the All-Star break by relying on a staunch defense that left opponents desperate for points. The Jazz added record-setting offense Monday night in a 94-66 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Utah put together its most prolific first half of the season thanks to a barrage of 3-pointers. The Jazz hit 12 of 15 3-pointers in the first 24 minutes to set a franchise record for the most in a half. They led by 14 after the first quarter and 61-30 at halftime. The current six-game winning streak is their longest since March 2012.

Warriors 108, Lakers 105

When the Golden State Warriors made the playoffs two years ago, then-coach Mark Jackson got teary eyed just talking about the accomplishment and owner Joe Lacob offered handshakes and hugs to players in a celebratory locker room. Now the Warriors have their sights set so high they barely even recognize the feat. Klay Thompson scored 26 points, Stephen Curry had 19 points and nine assists and the Warriors secured a playoff spot before beating the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 108-105 on Monday night.

Monday, March 16 Scoreboard

Toronto 117, Indiana 98

Washington 105, Portland 97

Boston 108, Philadelphia 89

Memphis 92, Denver 81

Brooklyn 122, Minnesota 106

Miami 106, Cleveland 92

Dallas 119, Oklahoma City 115

Utah 94, Charlotte 66

Atlanta 110, Sacramento 103

Golden State 108, LA Lakers 105

Tuesday, March 17 Schedule (All Times Central)

Memphis at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.

San Antonio at New York, 6:30 p.m.

Orlando at Houston, 7 p.m.

Milwaukee at New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Charlotte at LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m.