The Cleveland Cavaliers edged a tight game against the Toronto Raptors 132-129 to boost their chances of winning the Central Division.

The sides shared 80 points in the first quarter and the Raptors went into the break 79-64 up.

But the Cavs came back, with LeBron James leading the scoring with 35 points and 17 assists, while Kyle Lowry had 24 points and seven assists for Toronto.

The Raptors are already guaranteed a playoff berth and the Cavs sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 42-29 record.

Dwight Howard starred for the Charlotte Hornets with 32 points and 30 rebounds as the side left it late to beat the Brooklyn Nets 111-105.

Charlotte Hornets’ Dwight Howard scored 32 points (Matt Slocum/AP)
Charlotte Hornets’ Dwight Howard scored 32 points (Matt Slocum/AP)

The Nets led 105-102 with less than a minute on the clock but the Hornets scored nine without reply for the win.

All five Philadelphia 76ers starters racked up double figures as they beat the floundering Memphis Grizzlies 119-105, while Giannis Antetokounmpo left the game injured as the Milwaukee Bucks went down to the LA Clippers 127-120.

Anthony Davis had 28 points and 13 rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans got a win against the Indiana Pacers 96-92 to sit fifth in a tight Western Conference. San Antonio Spurs got their fifth win in a row as the side beat the Washington Wizards 98-90.

In the night’s other games, the Danver Nuggets ran away with the lead as they beat the Chicago Bulls 135-102 and the Miami Heat beat the New York Knicks 119-98, with Kelly Olynyk scoring 22 and adding 10 assists.