Kyle Lowry (right) of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball as Danny Green of the San Antonio Spurs defends during their NBA game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Wednesday. (AFP)

DPA/Los Angeles


Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Just ask Matt Barnes.
Barnes buried a desperation midcourt 3-point heave with 1.1 seconds remaining, lifting the Memphis Grizzlies to a dramatic 93-92 road victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
“That was crazy, I’ve never seen a finish like that,” Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said. “He just let it fly.”
Memphis never led in the second half and trailed 92-90 when Detroit’s Marcus Morris missed a potential clinching shot with seven seconds left and Andre Drummond failed on the tip-in.
Barnes grabbed the rebound and sped up-court before launching his running two-handed 31-footer that splashed through the net for the improbable game-winner and silenced the Palace crowd.
“I got the rebound, turned and just took off with it,” said Barnes, who finished with eight points and nine rebounds. “I hit a crazy, half-court shot to win it. Better lucky than not.”
Zach Randolph had 21 points with 16 rebounds while Spaniard Marc Gasol added 19 points and 12 boards despite playing with a left ankle sprain for Memphis (13-10), which bounced back from Tuesday’s 125-88 blowout loss against Oklahoma City.
“We needed this win because we’ve been struggling lately,” Randolph said.
Drummond had 18 points with 19 rebounds, while Reggie Jackson also netted 18 for the Pistons (12-11) whose five-game home winning streak ended.
“It was a good game,” Jackson said. “Just the unexplainable, the unimaginable happened at the end.”

Elsewhere
Toronto Raptors 97, San Antonio Spurs 94: DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points and grabbed a key rebound in the closing seconds, Kyle Lowry had 19, and the Raptors (14-9) snapped the Spurs’ four-game winning streak. Argentine Manu Ginobili had 17 points off the bench for the Spurs (18-5), who played from behind the entire games.

Boston Celtics 105, Chicago 100: Isaiah Thomas scored all 20 of his points in the second half, including nine in the final 2:51 to pace eight teammates in double figures, and the Celtics (13-9) beat the visiting Bulls for their fourth win in five games. Jimmy Butler netted a season-high 36 points, while Spaniard Pau Gasol added 16 with 15 rebounds in Chicago’s (11-8) season-high third straight loss.

Houston Rockets 109, Washington Wizards 103: James Harden rebounded Tuesday’s season-low 10-point outing, with 42 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, carrying the visiting Rockets (11-12) past the Wizards for their fourth win in five games. John Wall collected 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds to pace Washington (9-11) while Poland’s Marcin Gortat added a season-high tying 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Charlotte Hornets 99, Miami Heat 81: Frenchman Nicolas Batum posted his fifth career triple double, with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and the short-handed Hornets (13-8) beat the visiting Heat (12-8) to move atop the Southeast Division. Kemba Walker and Marvin Williams scored 18 points apiece in Charlotte’s third straight victory, hours after starting centre Al Jefferson was handed a five-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug program.

Utah Jazz 106, New York Knicks 85: Gordon Hayward scored 13 of his 24 points in a decisive 29-11 first quarter, Derrick Favors added 20, and the Jazz (10-10) handed the visiting Knicks (10-13) their worst loss of the season.

Minnesota Timberwolves 123, LA Lakers 122 (OT): Kevin Martin hit six triples en route to 37 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 26 with a career-high tying 14 rebounds, and the host Timberwolves (9-12) trimmed the West-worst Lakers. Rookie D’Angelo Russell led the Lakers (3-19) with a career-high 23 points while Julius Randle had 20 and 12 rebounds.

LA Clippers 109, Milwaukee Bucks 95: J.J. Redick fired in 15 of his season-high 31 points in the third quarter, Chris Paul added 18 and a season-best 18 assists, and the visiting Clippers (13-9) bounced the Bucks (9-14).

Phoenix Suns 107, Orlando Magic 104: Eric Bledsoe scored 21 points, including the tie-breaking layup with 71 seconds left, while Alex Len had career-highs of 20 points and 14 rebounds, as the Suns (10-13) survived the visiting Magic. Orlando had a shot to force overtime but Frenchman Evan Fournier missed a potential game-tying triple as time expired. Nicola Vucevic topped Orlando (12-10) with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Atlanta Hawks 98, Dallas Mavericks 95: Paul Millsap had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Jeff Teague hit two free throws with 11 seconds left, as the visiting Hawks (14-9) edged Mavericks. Deron Williams topped Dallas (13-10) with 18 points but missed a potential game-tying triple at the buzzer.