Irving keeps Celtics’ hot streak alive

Raptors, Spurs among day’s other winners

Masked man Kyrie Irving scored 25 points to lead the Boston Celtics to their 13th consecutive NBA victory on Tuesday with a 109-102 triumph at Brooklyn.

The Celtics, whose 13-2 record is the NBA’s best, are on their longest win streak since winning 14 in a row in November and December of 2010, with the team record of 19 consecutive wins coming in November and December of 2008.

Irving suffered a facial fracture on Friday in Boston’s 9087 victory over Charlotte when

Tuesday’s games:

Boston Toronto SanAntonio 109 129 97 Brooklyn Houston Dallas 102 113 91 Australian teammate Aron Baynes elbowed him accidentally. That forced the 25-yearold guard to miss Sunday’s 9594 victory over Toronto.

A plastic protective mask allowed Irving onto the court against the Nets and he responded by hitting 8-of-20 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line as all five Boston starters scored in double figures

“It’s a piece of plastic on your face,” Irving said. “It’s the difference in having something over your face. It’s almost like having somewhat foggy blinders on.

“When I take off the mask, I can see everything. When I have the mask on, I’m really dialled into what’s in front of me, my peripherals are a little cut off, but it’s just something you get you used to.”

At Houston, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points to lead six Raptors in double figures as the Canadian club downed the host Rockets 129113, snapping Houston’s sixgame win streak.

At Dallas, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 32 points and Australian guard Patty Mills added 19 to spark the San Antonio Spurs over the Dallas Mavericks 97-91. The Spurs improved to 9-5. The Mavericks fell to 2-13.