Brown scores 50 to lead Celtics
Jaylen Brown scored a career-high 50 points, rallying the Celtics from 14 points down late in the fourth quarter to a 116-111 overtime victory over the Magic on Sunday night in Boston.
Brown scored 21 in the fourth quarter, then opened overtime with his fifth three-pointer of the game. Brown, whose previous career high was 46 against the Knicks on Oct. 20, also finished with 11 rebounds as the Celtics avoided losing for the fourth time in five games.
Only the Nets’ Kevin Durant (51 against the Pistons on Dec. 12) has scored more points in a game this season. The Warriors’ Stephen Curry also has a 50-point game this season, against the Hawks on Nov. 8.
♦ Rookie Josh Giddey, 19, became the youngest player with a triple-double (17 points, 14 assists, 13 rebounds) in the Thunder’s 95-86 loss to the visiting Mavericks. The Hornets’ LaMelo Ball was the previous youngest. Luka Doncic had 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in his return from a 10game absence (left leg, virus) to lift the Mavs.
♦ The Warriors’ Draymond Green cleared protocols and will play Monday against the visiting Heat.
NHL Penguins have two hat tricks in one game
Evan Rodrigues and Bryan Rust had hat tricks and the Penguins beat the visiting Sharks 8-5 for their eighth consecutive win. The last time two Penguins had hat tricks in one game was Dec. 11, 2008, when Petr Sykora and Pascal Dupuis did it. The last time the Blackhawks had two hat tricks in one game was when Steve Sullivan and Eric Daze did it in an 8-5 victory against the Bruins on March 9, 2003.
♦ Forward Artemi Panarin (36 points in 31 games) was added to the COVID list before the Rangers’ 4-0 victory against the visiting Lightning.
MISCELLANEOUS
Fire add German defender Czichos
The Fire acquired center back Rafael Czichos from German Bundesliga side FC Köln. Czichos, 31, has a contract that runs through 2024, and he will occupy an international slot on the roster.
“One of our key objectives for this offseason was to acquire a talented left-footed center back, and we feel confident we have achieved that with Rafael’s signing,” Fire sporting director Georg Heitz said.
♦ Quarterback Matt Corral suffered a sprained right ankle in the first quarter of Ole Miss’ 21-7 loss Saturday night in the Sugar Bowl. After the game, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said X-rays were negative. Corral, who threw for 3,936 yards and 31 touchdowns in the regular season, was projected to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft and earned praise for deciding not to opt out of the bowl game.