Leonard hits winning basket, Raptors beat Nets 127-125

Kawhi Leonard banked home the tiebreaking basket with 4.2 seconds remaining and the Toronto Raptors edged the Brooklyn Nets 127-125 on Monday night.

Leonard scored 30 points, Serge Ibaka had 18 points and12 rebounds and Pascal Siakam scored 17 for the Raptors, who have won eight straight home meetings with the Nets.

Raptors center Marc Gasol scored 16 points, 11 in the fourth quarter, in his home debut after being acquired in last Thursday's trade with Memphis.

Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) makes a layup against the Brooklyn Nets during second half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)

D'Angelo Russell scored 28 points and had a career-high 15 assists for Brooklyn. Joe Harris scored 24 points and made a career-best seven 3-pointers, but the Nets lost for the fifth time in six games.

The Nets gave the ball to Russell on their final possession, but his long shot bounced off the rim and into Kyle Lowry's hands.

Lowry and Patrick McCaw each scored 13 for the Raptors, who have won 14 of 15 against Brooklyn.

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, right, makes a steal from Brooklyn Nets guard Treveon Graham, left, during second half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto led 120-114 on a 3 by Lowry at 2:45 of the fourth but Crabbe replied with back-to-back 3-pointers to tie it at 120 at 1:34.

Russell hit a tiebreaking 3 with 50 seconds to go, but Danny Green answered with a 3 for the Raptors.

Gasol received a standing ovation when he checked in for Ibaka at 3:03 of the first.

Toronto Raptors Marc Gasol controls the ball as Brooklyn Nets guard Shabazz Napier (13) defends during second half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)

Raptors guard Fred VanVleet was not available. Before the game, the Raptors said VanVleet will miss at least three weeks because of a ligament inury in his left thumb. VanVleet was hurt in the second quarter of Saturday's win at New York.

Toronto acquired some insurance at the point guard position Monday when they agreed to sign veteran Jeremy Lin, who is being waived by the Atlanta Hawks. Lin will sign with Toronto later this week, said Jim Tanner, one of his agents.

Harris made five of six from 3-point range in the first quarter and Brooklyn led 29-21 after one. The five 3-pointers are the most Harris has ever made in a single quarter, and matched his season-high for an entire game.

Toronto Raptors Marc Gasol makes a reverse dunk as Brooklyn Nets forward Ed Davis (17) looks on during second half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)

Leonard scored nine points in the second but Harris made two more from long range, giving Brooklyn a 60-56 lead at halftime.

Russell scored 14 points in the third, but Ibaka had 12 for the Raptors, who tied it 92-all on Anunoby's driving basket in the final seconds of the quarter.

TIP-INS

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) shots over Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen (31) and Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) during second half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)

Nets: In his second game since missing 42 with a foot injury, Caris LeVert shot three for 11 and scored six points. ... The Nets shot 20 for 41 from 3-point range. ... F DeMarre Carroll (left knee) was not available. Coach Kenny Atkinson said Carroll should return Wednesday at Cleveland.

Raptors: This was the first of six consecutive home games for the Raptors, who don't play on the road against until March 3 at Detroit. ... Musician Sting attended the game.

UP NEXT

Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell, left, and Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, right, battle for control of a loose ball during second half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)

Nets: Visit Cleveland on Wednesday night.

Raptors: Host Washington on Wednesday night.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Toronto Raptors center Serge Ibaka (9) gets to a loose ball as Brooklyn Nets centre Jarrett Allen (31) defends during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)