NBA: Heat Secures Playoffs With Win Against Celtics

The Miami Heat clinched a spot in the NBA playoffs for the fourth time in the past six seasons by beating hosts Boston Celtics 129-121 on Tuesday night.

Miami won in Boston for the second consecutive game, all but relegating the Celtics to the NBA’s play-in tournament. Miami has a three-game lead and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker on the Celtics with each team having three regular-season contests to play.

Tyler Herro led the Heat with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo scored 22 apiece.

Kemba Walker had a season-high 36 points to lead the Celtics. Jayson Tatum amassed 33 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Los Angeles Lakers 101 – 99 New York Knicks

Talen Horton-Tucker hit the decisive 3-pointer with 20.3 seconds left in overtime, lifting Los Angeles over visiting New York.

The 20-year-old guard scored eight of his 13 points in extra time. Kyle Kuzma paced the Lakers with 23 points. Anthony Davis added 20 points, and Andre Drummond chipped in with 16 points and 18 rebounds.

Facing his former team, Julius Randle totaled a game-high 31 points for New York. Derrick Rose contributed 27 points, six rebounds and six assists off the bench.

Milwaukee Bucks 114 – 102 Orlando Magic

Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 27 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals to lead Milwaukee over the visiting Orlando.

Donte DiVincenzo scored 19 points as the Bucks won for the sixth time in the past seven games. Brook Lopez added 17 points and Jrue Holiday had 15 for Milwaukee. The Bucks remain one game behind the Brooklyn Nets for second place in the Eastern Conference with three games left.

Cole Anthony scored 18 points and Moritz Wagner registered 17 points and a season-best 13 rebounds for Orlando, which has lost four straight games and 17 of its past 21.

Other NBA results

Indiana Pacers 103 – 94 Philadelphia 76ers

Sacramento Kings 122 – 106 Oklahoma City Thunder

Golden State Warriors 122 – 116 Suns

Los Angeles Clippers 115 – 96 Toronto Raptors

Denver Nuggets 117 – 112 Charlotte Hornets

Minnesota Timberwolves 119 – Detroit Pistons

Brooklyn Nets 115 – 107 Chicago Bulls

Memphis Grizzlies 133 – 104 Dallas Mavericks

Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.