Jeremy Lamb hits incredible buzzer-beater from almost 50 feet in Hornets win
Lamb’s heroics boosted Charlotte’s hopes of reaching the play-offs.
Jeremy Lamb’s incredible buzzer-beater from almost 50 feet secured the Charlotte Hornets a dramatic victory against the Toronto Raptors.
Lamb’s attempt from half-court found the basket for a 115-114 victory for the play-off chasing Hornets, who have won three in a row.
Kawhi Leonard, who had 28 points, looked to have sealed victory as he put the Raptors ahead with 44 seconds left to play, but Lamb’s winner stunned the Scotiabank Arena.
The Hornets’ run has moved them to within two games of the eighth play-off spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Houston Rockets clinched their place in the NBA’s post season with a 113-90 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
James Harden scored 28 points as the Rockets became the third team to clinch their play-off place in the Western Conference.
The Boston Celtics are still waiting to clinch their post-season place after they suffered a fourth consecutive defeat. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 48 points for the San Antonio Spurs, who won 115-96.
The Spurs have won eight of their last 10 games and are on course to secure a play-off spot in the Western Conference.
The Los Angeles Clippers are also closing in on clinching a place in the west and they recorded a fifth successive win to beat the New York Knicks 124-113.
Lou Williams scored 29 and Montrezl Harrell added 24 for the win, while Danilo Gallinari scored 26 points.
Elsewhere, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 as the Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-105, while the Indiana Pacers breezed past the Denver Nuggets 124-88 in a battle between two teams already assured of a post-season place.
LeBron James will not be in the play-offs, but he scored 29 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 111-106 and the defending champions Golden State Warriors moved back to the top of the Western Conference with a 121-114 win against the Detroit Pistons.