Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Raptors defeat the Mavericks 94-86 in Dallas on March 25, 2017.Jerome Miron
DeMar DeRozan and Serge Ibaka scored 18 points apiece and the Toronto Raptors won their fifth straight game, 94-86 over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.
The Raptors, who came back from 15-point deficits to win each of their last two games, made it a little easier on themselves Saturday. Toronto scored the game's first seven points and never trailed in dealing the Mavericks' playoff hopes a damaging blow.
Harrison Barnes scored 23 points for Dallas, which missed 18 of its first 22 3-pointers and finished just 7 of 28 from behind the arc.
Patrick Patterson added 14 points for Toronto, including a perfect 4 for 4 on 3-pointers.
The Mavericks fell four games behind Denver for the final playoff spot in the West.
Toronto led by as many as 16 points in the first half and by 15 early in the fourth quarter before a 10-0 Dallas run made things more interesting.
Dorian Finney-Smith's free throws with 7:57 to go brought the Mavs within 79-74, the closest they had been since 7-2 early in the game. But Ibaka made consecutive jumpers to restore a nine-point lead, and Dallas got no closer than six after that.
The Raptors had their biggest lead at 42-26 in the first half. Barnes scored Dallas' last 11 points of the half to help cut into the lead, but Toronto led 54-44 at the break.
J.J. Barea's long 3 at the third-quarter buzzer again brought Dallas within 10 at 74-64.
TIP-INS
Raptors: Coach Dwane Casey said he was hopeful that guard Kyle Lowry would return from wrist surgery before the end of the regular season. "I know he's doing a lot of conditioning, a lot of work to keep his body in shape," Casey said. "Just let him rehab, let him do his thing and trust our medical people." Lowry has missed the last 16 games. Toronto was also without starting forward DeMarre Carroll due to a sore lower back. P.J. Tucker started in his place.
Mavericks: Seth Curry with 11 points and Yogi Ferrell with 10 were the only other Mavs in double figures. Nerlens Noel started his second game in a row at centre for the Mavericks, who have gone to a big lineup. They've moved Dirk Nowitzki to power forward, Barnes to small forward and Curry to point guard.
STREAK IN JEOPARDY
The Mavericks took their 41st loss of the season. Their next loss will end the NBA's second-longest streak of .500 or better seasons — currently at 16 seasons. Their last sub-.500 season was 1999-00, when they finished 40-42 and Mark Cuban became owner of the team in January 2000.
San Antonio has the longest streak of .500 or better seasons with 20, including this season.
ABOUT THURSDAY NIGHT
Cuban couldn't resist giving his opinion on Barea's ejection from the Mavericks' victory over the Clippers on Thursday night. Barea was called for a flagrant 2 foul for pushing Blake Griffin, a player with a 10-inch height advantage over Barea.
"I just feel bad for Blake," Cuban said. "It's hard to come back from a knockout like that. We sent flowers to his family, condolences. I can only guess that he's going to be drinking through a straw for a long, long time."
UP NEXT
Raptors: Host Orlando on Monday. The Magic have beaten the Raptors in two of three meetings this season.
Mavericks: Host Oklahoma City on Monday to end a four-game homestand. Dallas plays seven of its final nine on the road.