Irving hurt, but Celtics triumph
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Boston Celtics juggernaut continues to steamroll its way through the NBA, extending their winning streak to 11 games on Friday despite a rash of injuries that now includes all-star Kyrie Irving.
With Gordon Hayward out for the season and Al Horford sitting out a second straight game with a concussion, Irving suffered a possible concussion less than two minutes into the game after taking an elbow from teammate Aron Baynes.
No matter – despite the revolving door on the infirmary – the Celtics just keep on winning without their Big Three, rallying from an 18-point deficit then hanging on for a 90-87 victory on Detroit 111, Atlanta 104 Boston 90, Charlotte 87 Indiana 105, Chicago 87 Miami 84, Utah 74 Milwaukee 94, San Antonio 87 Oklahoma City 120, LA Clippers 111 Orlando 128, Phoenix 112 Brooklyn 101, Portland 97 Friday night over the Charlotte Hornets.
Boston scored a season-low 11 points in the first quarter and was down 18 early in the third before sending the Hornets to their fourth straight loss. With unheralded guard Shane Larkin leading the way, the Celtics went on a 14-2 fourth-quarter surge to take control of the game and held the Hornets to 11 points in the fourth quarter. But the home team still had to survive a scramble at the end to survive.
Larkin finished with a season-high 16 points, while rookie Jayson Tatum, who is playing with a sore ankle, scored 16 points.
Terry Rozier had 15 points seven rebounds and four assists, Marcus Morris had 14 and seven rebounds and Jaylen Brown scored 10 points and had 13 rebounds.
Kemba Walker led all scorers with 20 points despite missing all six of his three-point shot attempts, while Frank Kaminsky scored all 14 of his points in the first half.
Walker, who missed a jumper that would have put his team ahead with five seconds left, scored Charlotte's final eight points.
Hornets forward Dwight Howard had a dismal night, shooting two-foreight from the floor, two-for-nine from the foul line, while making seven turnovers.