Barnes has third triple-double of season as Raptors rout Nets 136-101 to clinch playoff berth

TORONTO (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 26 points, Scottie Barnes had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for his ninth career triple-double, and the Toronto Raptors clinched their first playoff berth in four seasons by beating the Brooklyn Nets 136-101 on Sunday in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Atlanta’s loss to Miami and Orlando’s loss at Boston gave Toronto the fifth seed in the East and a first-round matchup with fourth-seeded Cleveland.

The Raptors and Hawks both finished 46-36 but Toronto swept the season series 4-0.

Toronto went 3-0 against the Cavaliers this season but the teams haven’t played since Nov. 24.

Barnes shot 8 for 11 in his third triple-double of the season. He’s the first player in Raptors history to have three triple-doubles in multiple seasons.

Brandon Ingram scored 25 points, Ja’Kobe Walter and Jakob Poeltl each had 11 and AJ Lawson had 10 points as the Raptors posted their best record since going 48-34 and placing fifth in the East in 2021-22. That season also saw Toronto’s most recent playoff appearance, a six-game defeat to Philadelphia in the first round.

Tyson Etienne led the Nets with 20 points, E.J. Liddell scored 17 points, Chaney Johnson had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Ben Saraf scored 15 points.

Brooklyn (20-62) lost three straight to finish their worst season since posting the same record in 2016-17.

The Nets, who went 26-56 last season, have lost four consecutive season finales.

The Nets were without 10 players due to injury, a group that included Nic Claxton (sprained finger), Noah Clowney (left ankle), Egor Demin (left foot), Josh Minot (left ankle), Michael Porter Jr. (left hamstring) and Ziaire Williams (left foot).

Toronto will be on the road at Cleveland next weekend to begin the playoffs.

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Brooklyn Nets forward Chaney Johnson (31) catches a rebound in front of Toronto Raptors centerJakob Poeltl (19) and Ja'kobe Walter (14) during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP

Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett (9) scoops the rebound from Brooklyn Nets forward Trevon Scott (13) as teammate Malachi Smith (18) looks on during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto, Sunday, April 12, 2026.(Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) drives past Brooklyn Nets forward Chaney Johnson (31) and teammate Michael Porter Jr. (17) during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) goes up to shoot over Brooklyn Nets guard Malachi Smith (18) during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) slam dunks the ball during first half NBA basketball action against the Brooklyn Nets, in Toronto, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

MIAMI (AP) — Jaime Jaquez Jr. capped his sixth-man award candidacy by scoring 26 points off the bench, Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell each scored 25 and the Miami Heat tuned up for the play-in tournament by beating the Atlanta Hawks 143-117 on Sunday night.

Kel’el Ware scored 16 points for Miami, which will need to win two road play-in games to make the playoffs. The Heat pulled off that feat as the No. 10 seed entering the play-in last season.

Buddy Hield scored a game-high 31 points in just 21 minutes off the bench for Atlanta, which had a playoff spot locked up going into the game. Corey Kispert scored 21 and Asa Newell finished with 17 for the Hawks.

Miami ended the season with a team-record 9,911 points.

The Hawks — who risked falling to No. 6 in the East by sitting players, and that's exactly what happened — decided to emphasize health and rest, so they sat Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, Jalen Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga and Onyeka Okongwu, among others.

Atlanta could have been No. 5 had it won Sunday. The Hawks will play No. 3 New York and not No. 4 Cleveland in Round 1.

“The focus for us has been on our guys going into the postseason healthy," Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. "And after that, we’ll figure out who we’re playing and all those things when we get to the postseason.”

Tony Bradley, a recent acquisition for Atlanta, made his first Hawks start. Kispert made his eighth of the season, Keaton Wallace made his third and Newell made his second.

Atlanta finished 46-36, its best record since going 48-34 in 2015-16. Miami finished 43-39, ending the regular season at .500 or better for the 15th time in Erik Spoelstra's 18 seasons as head coach.

Hawks: Will open East Round 1 series at New York this weekend.

Heat: Visit Charlotte in a play-in game Tuesday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) dunks over Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., left as Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, center, talks with referee Robert Hussey (85) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Atlanta Hawks center Christian Koloko (35) scores defended by Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra slaps hands with forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, center right, celebrates with guard Tyler Herro (14) and forward Andrew Wiggins (22) as Atlanta Hawks center Tony Bradley, right, walks downcourt during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)