Raptors gain in bid for second in the East

The Toronto Raptors’ depth has them going places.

Anthony Parker had 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, and seven Raptors scored in double figures in a 111-100 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night at Minneapolis that moved Toronto within one game of idle Chicago and Cleveland for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto improved to 32-15 since Jan. 1 -- the best record in the East.

Golden State 126, Utah 102 -- The Warriors’ eighth victory in nine home games put them in a virtual tie for the final Western Conference playoff spot with the Clippers.

Stephen Jackson scored 28 points for Golden State. Ronnie Brewer scored 21 points for Utah, which fell a half-game behind Houston for fourth in the conference and home-court advantage in the clubs’ probable first-round playoff meeting.

Detroit 91, New York 83 -- Chauncey Billups scored 22 points at New York to help the Pistons move one game away from clinching the top seeding in the East. Eddy Curry and Nate Robinson scored 24 points apiece for the Knicks.

San Antonio 112, Portland 96 -- The host Spurs stayed two games behind Phoenix for the second-best record in the Western Conference. Tony Parker scored 30 points for the Spurs.

Orlando 117, Milwaukee 94 -- The Magic shot 62.5% at Milwaukee to equal its season-best shooting performance. Hedo Turkoglu scored 25 points for Orlando.

Houston 95, Seattle 90 -- Yao Ming scored 31 points and Tracy McGrady had 27 for the Rockets at Seattle. Houston had no information on backup guard Bonzi Wells, who didn’t join the team for its shoot-around and wasn’t at the arena for the game.