The Miami Heat secured a play-off spot with a 129-121 victory at the Boston Celtics that all but condemned the Celtics to the new play-in tournament.
Miami's 10th win in 13 games moved them into a tie for fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers kept their play-off hopes alive with a 101-99 victory against the New York Knicks.
With LeBron James again absent through injury, Talen Horton-Tucker stepped up to hit the match-winning three-pointer.
The Lakers are hopeful James, who has missed their past five games with an ankle injury, can play against the Houston Rockets at home on Wednesday.
The result leaves the seventh-placed Lakers within one place of the Dallas Mavericks, who lost 133-104 to the Memphis Grizzlies.
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