ROZIER LIFTS CELTICS PAST CAVALIERS
Rozier scores 20 points in 20 minutes for Boston, leads Celtics in first meeting between Conference rivals since season-opener
Terry Rozier scored 20 points in 20 minutes, stealing the spotlight from LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas in a rematch of the Eastern Conference finals and leading the Boston Celtics to a 102-88 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
Rozier scored the last eight Boston points of the first quarter to give the Celtics an 11-point lead, and had another eight in a row midway through the fourth when they expanded the lead to 21. Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum had 15 points apiece, and Irving and Al Horford each had 11 points and nine rebounds to help Boston to its fourth straight win.
James had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Tristan Thompson had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which lost for the fourth time in five games. Playing on back-to-back nights — the Celtics had been preparing for them since New Year’s Eve — Cleveland shot 34.8 percent.
It was the first time the teams had played since the season opener, when top Boston free agent Gordon Hayward broke his leg in a gruesome injury that reshuffled the Eastern Conference playoff race.
WARRIORS 125, MAVERICKS 122
In Dallas, Stephen Curry hit a long 3-pointer with three seconds to play, giving Golden State a hard-fought victory over Dallas.
Curry finished with 32 points as Golden State’s “Big Four” combined for 100 — and the Warriors needed every one of them against a Mavericks team that had won four straight.
Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson had 25 points each, and Draymond Green added 18 to go with 10 rebounds.
Wesley Matthews led the Mavericks with 22 points, including seven 3-pointers, and Dwight Powell tied his career high with 21.
Dallas, playing from behind most of the game, erased a 12-point deficit with 4:32 to play, tying the score at 120 on Harrison Barnes’ jumper with 39.9 seconds left.
THUNDER 133, LAKERS 96
In Los Angeles, Russell Westbrook had 20 points and 12 assists in a successful return home, and rookie Terrance Ferguson scored all 24 of his points in the second half of his first career start as Oklahoma City handed Los Angeles its eighth consecutive defeat.
Paul George also scored 24 points and Carmelo Anthony added 21 to complement Westbrook, the reigning MVP who was born in Long Beach and went to college at UCLA. /