Toronto (44-17) continue to hide from Boston atop the Eastern Conference as the teams have created separation from Central Division leaders Cleveland. The Raptors extended their winning streak to three games Friday night with a 102-95 victory at Washington, sweeping a two-game road swing.
DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points but C. J. Miles hit three of his six 3-pointers and scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as Toronto's vaunted bench mob outscored Washington's reserves 50-14.
Charlotte's bid to make a push to contend for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference appears to have stalled with back-to-back losses. The Hornets (28-35) are trying to salvage the final game of a three-game road swing against Atlantic Division opponents after falling 110-99 at Philadelphia on Friday night.
Kemba Walker scored 31 points and Nicolas Batum finished two assists shy of a triple-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, but they got little help beyond Frank Kaminsky's 19 points off the bench as the Hornets were outscored 17-5 in the final 4:58 and went scoreless in the last 2:16.