NEW YORK — The
Toronto Raptors
still can get home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
If not, at least they know they are better than ever on the road.
DeMar DeRozan converted a tiebreaking three-point play with 1:05 left on a night he became Toronto’s No. 2 career scorer, and the Raptors beat the
New York Knicks
93-89 on Sunday to stay alive for the No. 1 seed in the East.
DeRozan finished with 27 points as the Raptors pulled within two games of Cleveland with two to play for both teams. Toronto won the season series and owns the tiebreaker if the teams finish with the same record.
But the Raptors aren't caught up in that after setting a franchise record with 23 road victories.
"In this league, you've got to be able to win at home and win on the road," DeRozan said. "Sometimes the road is bigger and I think we just like that pressure of having our backs against the wall and I think that's why we play so well on the road."
Kyle Lowry scored 15 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 14 for the Raptors, who close with games against Philadelphia and Brooklyn, the two worst teams in the East. Cleveland finishes against playoff-bound Atlanta and Detroit.