Irving’s 47-point masterclass help Celtics extend winning run
Davis logs 36 points to help Pelicans soar over Thunder in Louisiana
Kyrie Irving laid on a 47-point masterclass to give the Boston Celtics a 16th straight victory on Monday as the Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed the Detroit Pistons to continue their revival.
Irving was in dazzling form for Boston as they rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to overhaul the Dallas Mavericks 110-102 in overtime.
Irving’s haul included five three-pointers and three rebounds as Boston came back from 89-79 down with five minutes remaining in the final quarter to win.
Boston improved to 16-2 with the victory to head the Eastern Conference. Dallas fell to 3-15 with the loss.
It was the fourth-highest scoring game of Irving’s career and helped Boston tie the franchises fourth-longest winning streak.
Elsewhere on Monday, Cleveland sent a message to their rivals in the Eastern Conference with a ruthless walloping of Detroit. The Cavs 116-88 blowout was the clearest sign yet that the 2016 NBA champions have shaken off their early-season problems. Cleveland have now won five games in a row and have improved to 10-7.
Kevin Love led the scoring with 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists while LeBron James had 18 points and eight rebounds in 27 minutes.
In other games on Monday, Anthony Davis scored 36 points to help the New Orleans Pelicans defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 114-107 in a bruising encounter at the Smoothie King Center in Louisiana.
The Pelicans rallied from 19 points down in the first quarter to claim a victory
In Philadelphia, 76ers star Ben Simmons continued his superb start to the season with 27 points in a 107-86 win over the Utah Jazz, while the Los Angeles Clippers’ woes continued as they crashed to a ninth straight defeat to the New York Knicks.