Isaiah powers Boston Celtics to victory
BOSTON: Isaiah Thomas scored 28 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and Boston defeated Indiana 109-102 in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Boston won its fourth in a row, sealing it with two free throws from Thomas and two from Jae Crowder during the final 14.9 seconds after Indiana closed to within 105-102 on two C J Miles free throws with 19 seconds to play. Jeff Teague had a season-high 31 for Indiana, which lost its second straight. Paul George and Miles each had 19 for the Pacers, and Thaddeus Young added 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Pacers shot 42.7 per cent.
KNICKS 106, MAGIC 95 Derrick Rose tossed in 19 points and reserve centre Willy Hernangomez added 15 points to lead New York to a win over Orlando at Madison Square Garden. Kyle O’Quinn contributed 14 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in recording his third double-double of the season for the Knicks.
Serge Ibaka led the Magic with 23 points and 10 rebounds and Evan Fournier added 21 points.
CLIPPERS 106, SPURS 101 Despite losing Chris Paul to a hamstring injury, the Los Angeles Clippers beat the San Antonio Spurs 106-101 at Staples Center.
Paul suffered a strained left hamstring early in the third quarter and did not return. He finished with team- high 19 points, six assists and seven rebounds in 23 minutes.
Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs (23-6) with 27 points and nine rebounds. Pau Gasol contributed 21 points and eight rebounds. Danny Green and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 10 apiece.
WARRIORS 117, NETS 101 Kevin Durant scored 26 points as Golden State clamped down defensively in the second half and rallied from a 16-point deficit to earn a victory over Brooklyn.
Klay Thompson added 23 points for the Warriors, who ran their winning streak to six games by completely turning things around after half-time.
Stephen Curry contributed 15 points despite shooting 6-of-19, including 3-of-13 from three-point range.
Golden State’s Zaza Pachulia contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds. Durant added nine boards and seven assists.
HEAT 115, LAKERS 107 Justise Winslow scored a careerhigh 23 points and Hassan Whiteside had his sixth double-double in a row to lead Miami past Los Angeles at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Whiteside and Winslow each had 23 points and 13 rebounds. Whiteside has 23 double-doubles this season, tying him for the NBA lead with Russell Westbrook and James Harden.