Boston
Avery Bradley finished with 16 points and eight rebounds as the Celtics won their third consecutive game.
Boston had what had been an eight-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter cut to a point. But the Celtics responded with a 10-4 run to get the separation they needed to close it out.
Toronto had a four-game winning streak snapped and fell 2 ½ games behind Cleveland for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland
Auburn Hills, Mich.
Chasing their first postseason appearance since 2009, the Pistons have won four straight.
Washington
Atlanta made a season-high 17 3s to keep pace in a competitive Eastern Conference playoff picture. Paul Millsap scored 17, Korber had 15, and Al Horford 13.
Chicago
In the front end of back-to-back with the Knicks, the Bulls failed to complete a sweep of its four-game homestand and dropped behind the Detroit Pistons in Eastern Conference standings for the eighth and final playoff spot.
Houston
Gordon Hayward had 22 points as Utah moved a half-game ahead of Houston into the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference playoff standings.
Minneapolis
Zach LaVine scored all 23 of his points in the second half, Andrew Wiggins also had 23 and the Timberwolves overcame a sluggish start to get just their second home victory of the month. They shot 56 percent and had 29 assists to overcome 18-for-32 shooting at the free throw line.
