With the game between the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers canceled due to the Boston Marathon bombings, there were only two games on the NBA slate Tuesday. Both of them did have some playoff seeding implications.
NBA scores: Raptors rip Hawks, Clippers smoke Blazers
The Hawks moved back to the No. 6 seed in the East with an ugly loss to the Raptors and the Clippers kept alive a chance at the No. 3 seed in the West with a win over the Blazers.
Raptors 113, Hawks 96
The Atlanta Hawks had control of their playoff seeding destiny heading into their final home game of the season against the Toronto Raptors. But the Hawks failed to show up, getting blown out 113-96 and falling back to the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.
DeMar DeRozan had 30 points and Rudy Gay had 27 for the Raptors (33-48), who shot 51.3 percent from the field in the blowout victory. Toronto led by three after a high scoring first quarter, but then extended that lead to 17 at the half after exploding for 38 points in the second quarter. The Raptors kept on rolling in the third quarter before cruising in the final frame.
Atlanta (44-37) played without Al Horford and wound up resting most of their starters. Kyle Korver led the Hawks with 13 points, while Ivan Johnson and Mike Scott both had 12 points off the bench. Josh Smith played just 13 minutes.
With the loss, getting the No. 6 seed and facing the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs appears to be the likely scenario for Atlanta. The Chicago Bulls would have to lose to the Washington Wizards and the Hawks would have to beat the New York Knicks for Atlanta to get the No. 5 seed.
Clippers 93, Trail Blazers 77
Caron Butler had 22 points as the Los Angeles Clippers destroyed the Portland Trail Blazers, 93-77. Blake Griffin added 16 points for the Clippers, who were able to get their starters some nice rest before their final game on Wednesday.
Los Angeles (55-26) used a big second quarter to take control of the game, outscoring Portland 26-13 to take a 17-point lead into halftime. The Clippers widened the gap to 25 heading into the fourth quarter before the Blazers (33-48) made the score a little more respectable at the end.
Will Barton had 17 points to lead the Blazers in their 12th straight loss. Portland was playing without LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews.
The Clippers kept pace with the Memphis Grizzlies for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, while also keeping hope alive for the No. 3 seed.
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