Jayson Tatum scored a career-high 60 points, including four free throws in the final 12 seconds of overtime, as the Boston Celtics came back from a 32-point, second-quarter deficit to beat the visiting San Antonio Spurs 143-140 on Friday in a wild game.
The Celtics’ worst deficit came 18 minutes into the game, but they roared back to tie the contest midway through the fourth period.
Boston took its first lead since the game’s opening minutes at 127-126 on Tatum’s 3-pointer with 38 seconds remaining in regulation. Tatum, who tied Larry Bird for the most points in a game in Celtics’ history (March 12, 1985), then hit a free throw with 18.8 seconds to play to push the Celtics’ lead to two points.
The Spurs’ DeMar DeRozan (30 points, 14 assists) retied the game with a pair of free throws with 10.8 seconds left, giving Boston a final shot for a win in regulation, but Tatum missed a jumper at the buzzer.
Kings 110, Lakers 106
Terence Davis scored 10 fourth-quarter points, and visiting Sacramento rallied for a victory over Los Angeles, spoiling the return of LeBron James from injury.
The Kings earned their first victory against the Lakers at Staples Center since 2018. Even more impressive, Sacramento won without frontline players De’Aaron Fox (health and safety protocols) and Harrison Barnes (left abductor tightness). Tyrese Haliburton paced the Kings with 23 points and 10 assists.
The Lakers lost for the fifth time in six games. James returned to the floor after the longest absence of his NBA career, 20 games. He finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 32 minutes.
Suns 121, Jazz 100
Two days after earning its first playoff appearance in 11 years, Phoenix claimed a share of the best record in the NBA thanks to a win over visiting Utah.
Devin Booker scored 31 points for the Suns, who earned their third win over the Jazz in as many games this season, giving them the tiebreaker if they end up tied going into the playoffs.
Bojan Bogdanovic led Utah with 22 points. The Jazz, playing without Donovan Mitchell (ankle) and Mike Conley (hamstring), fell for the third time in four games.
76ers 126, Hawks 104
Dwight Howard scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Philadelphia dominated visiting Atlanta for the second straight game.
Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris each scored 18 points for Philadelphia. The Sixers have won each of their past three games by a combined 97 points. Atlanta lost its third game in a row.
Philadelphia had seven players in double figures, and none of the starters played more than 27 minutes. The Hawks got leading scorer Trae Young back after he missed four games (sprained left ankle). Young showed no lingering effects and scored 32 points, his 18th game this season with 30-plus.
Trail Blazers 128, Nets 109
Damian Lillard recorded 32 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to lead Portland to a convincing victory over Brooklyn in New York.
Jusuf Nurkic contributed 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Trail Blazers improved to 3-0 on a six-game road trip. Lillard was 8 of 13 from 3-point range.
Kyrie Irving scored 28 points for the Nets after sitting out Thursday due to a groin injury. Brooklyn star Kevin Durant was held out Friday as the team played the second game of a back-to-back set.
Wizards 122, Cavaliers 93
Russell Westbrook recorded his 31st triple-double of the season with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, and Washington got past host Cleveland for its 10th win in 11 games.
Seven Wizards scored in double figures, led by Bradley Beal with 19 points. Raul Neto added 17 points.
Collin Sexton led all scorers with 22 points for the Cavaliers, who took their fifth consecutive loss.
Bucks 108, Bulls 98
Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton each scored 22 points as Milwaukee won at Chicago without the services of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jrue Holiday and Bobby Portis added 16 points each, and Portis had 14 rebounds. The Bucks found their defensive intensity with Antetokounmpo sitting out after he sprained his right ankle early in Thursday’s game against the Houston Rockets.
Coby White scored 21 points for the Bulls and Nikola Vucevic added 17 with 15 rebounds for the Bulls, who lost for the ninth time in 13 games.
Grizzlies 92, Magic 75
Dillon Brooks scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half to lead host Memphis past Orlando.
Jonas Valanciunas’ 14 points and 15 rebounds helped the Grizzlies overcome a generally poor shooting performance and defeat the Magic in the first of home-and-home games against Orlando on back-to-back nights.
Cole Anthony and Mo Bamba each scored 15 points to lead Orlando, which lost for the seventh time in its past eight games.
–Field Level Media
