NBA Round up - Heat, Mavericks book NBA playoff berths, Warriors still waiting

The Miami Heat rallied to beat the Boston Celtics 106-98 and clinch an NBA playoff berth on Wednesday as the post-season picture began to get clearer.

Dallas also secured a playoff spot after Luka Doncic scored 35 points and handed out 13 assists to lead the Mavericks to a 120-112 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavs' defeat meant either the Eastern Conference-leading Heat or Celtics would be sure of a berth, and it was a tense finish in Boston.

Jimmy Butler scored 24 points and Kyle Lowry added 23 as Miami came out on top in a game that featured 16 lead changes.

Bam Adebayo finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, who pushed a one-point halftime lead to as many as 11, but trailed 83-79 going into the final quarter.

Jaylen Brown scored 28 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, and Jayson Tatum added 23 points and six assists for Boston.

But the Celtics couldn't hold off Miami, who took a 102-96 lead on Butler's dunk with 1:43 remaining.

Tatum answered with a layup but on his next attempt was called for an offensive foul, and the Heat finally sealed it with a string of free throws.

"We really had to step up and make multiple efforts," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "They just keep on attacking regardless of what your scheme is."

But Spoelstra said the tight finish was just what his team needed to prepare for the playoffs.

"That's why I like going through a lot of these type of games in the regular season," he said. "We had some big-time performances down the stretch."

The Mavs' playoff spot was assured with their win as well as the Toronto Raptors' 125-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Doncic scored 20 points in the third quarter, when Dallas out-scored Cleveland 39-22 to claw back from a six-point