IRVING THE SPARK
Kyrie’s high scores help Celtics halt losing streak
KYRIE Irving scored 20 points as the Boston Celtics snapped their four-game losing streak with a convincing 113-102 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
The Eastern Conference leaders have struggled on offense during their mini-slump, but found their scoring touch to secure a comfortable road victory at the Staples Center.
Irving had eight rebounds and seven assists while Jayson Tatum had 18 points on a night when five Celtics players posted doubledigit scores.
The win saw Boston improve to 35-14 at the top of the East, and ensured they will head into tomorrow’s marquee match-up against the NBA champion Golden State Warriors on a winning note.
Boston took control after edging into a 62-55 half-time lead, quickly extending the gap to 13 points early in the third quarter thanks to a burst of scoring from Tatum and Aron Baynes.
The Clippers rallied to get within five points but a flurry of scoring capped by a Terry Rozier three-pointer handed Boston a 91-77 buffer heading into the final quarter.
The Celtics pressed home their advantage in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
In Dallas, James Harden scored 25 points as Houston tightened their grip on second place in the Western Conference with a 10497 win over the Mavericks in the all-Texas derby.
San Antonio remain in third place in the West after a 108-85 mauling of the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Spurs, fresh from victory over Cleveland on Tuesday, showed no ill-effects from their road trip in a one-sided win.
Once again the Spurs’ formidable scoring depth proved decisive, with eight players making double figures.
The fourth-placed Minnesota Timberwolves however fell to 3119 with a road 123-114 defeat against the Trail Blazers in Portland.
In Charlotte, Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday scored 19 points apiece to give the New Orleans Pelicans a 101-96 win over the Hornets.
Australian star Ben Simmons marked his selection for the NBA All Star weekend’s “Rising Stars” game next month with a triple double as the Philadelphia 76ers overpowered the Chicago Bulls by 115 to 101.
In Atlanta, the Toronto Raptors’ Lithuanian star Jonas Valanciunas had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds in his team’s 108-93 stroll past the Hawks.
RESULTS: LA Clippers 102 Boston 113, Atlanta 93 Toronto 108, Portland 123 Minnesota 114, Dallas 97 Houston 104, Memphis 85 San Antonio 108, Charlotte 96 New Orleans 101, Detroit 95 Utah 98 (OT), Indiana 116 Phoenix 101, Philadelphia 115 Chicago 101.