Tatum goes for 49 as Celtics beat Heat
Jayson Tatum had eight 3-pointers and scored a season-high 49 points, and the host Boston Celtics held off the hot-shooting Miami Heat for a 134-121 victory on Wednesday night.
It was the All-Star's third 40-point game this season as he continues to pace the league's top-rated offense and make an early case for MVP consideration in his sixth NBA season.
Boston, which shot 55% (46 for 83) has won five straight and 14 of its last 15.
Tatum finished 15 of 25 from the field, 8 of 12 from 3-point range and 11 of 12 from the line. He also grabbed 11 rebounds.
Jaylen Brown finished with 26 points following a one-game absence due to neck stiffness.
Max Strus finished with 23 points and five 3-pointers for the Heat. Bam Adebayo also added 23 points before being ejected in the closing seconds.
Devin Booker scored a season-high 51 points in just three quarters, Deandre Ayton had 30 points and 16 rebounds and host Phoenix stretched its winning streak to six games. Booker shot 20 of 25 from the field, going 6 of 7 from 3-point range. It was his second straight 40-point game. DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 29 points.
Caris LeVert scored 22 points off the bench and Darius Garland had 21 points and nine assist for host Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell added 18 points and six assists for the Cavaliers. AllStar center Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Kevin Durant scored 39 points and Brooklyn beat visiting Washington for its third straight victory. Durant was 13 for 20 from the field and hit all 11 of his free throws after scoring a season-high 45 points Monday night in a victory over Orlando. Kyrie Irving added 27 points. Kristaps Porzingis had 27 points and 19 rebounds for Washington. Bradley Beal and Kyle Zuzma each had 25 points for the Wizards.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, and Grayson Allen made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 30 seconds left after his superstar teammate fouled out, leading visiting Milwaukee. RJ Barrett scored 26 points, Julius Randle added 18 and Brunson had 17 for the Knicks. TIMBERWOLVES 109, GRIZZLIES 101 >> Anthony Edwards had 29 points, five steals and three blocks to lead Minnesota over visiting Memphis in the first game of an extended absence for injured Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns. Jaylen Nowell added 24 points off the bench and D'Angelo Russell had 15 points and 10 assists for the Timberwolves. Ja Morant scored 24 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who lost their cool down the stretch with successive ejections for Dillon Brooks and Morant.
Rookie Jalen Williams scored a season-high 27 points and Oklahoma City overcame a 20-point secondhalf deficit to hand San Antonio its ninth straight loss. Lu Dort scored 23 points and Josh Giddey added 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Thunder. Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sat out with a bruised hip. Devin Vassell scored 25 points and Keldon Johnson added 19 for the Spurs.
Jamal Murray scored 26 points, Nikola Jokic had 10 of his 12 assists in the first half and host Denver won its fourth straight. Jokic added 17 points and nine rebounds. Kevin Porter Jr. scored 23 points and Alperen Sengun had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Houston.
Trae Young had 30 points and 14 assists and visiting Atlanta snapped a three-game losing streak. Dejounte Murray added 27 points and Clint Capela finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Franz Wagner had 22 points and six rebounds for Orlando.
Zion Williamson had 33 points, four steals and two blocks, and Trey Murphy added six 3-pointers and 26 points for host New Orleans. Toronto was led by Gary Trent Jr., who scored 35 points.
Harrison Barnes led six players — all five starters and a reserve — in double figures with 22 points for host Sacramento. Bennedict Mathurin led Indiada with 22 points.
Already this season, the Lakers have struggled to stay healthy. Shortly before Wednesday's game against Portland, more bad news arrived.
Both Troy Brown Jr. and Lonnie Walker IV, key pieces of the starting lineup for most of the season, missed the game with left foot soreness, the Lakers said. Brown was downgraded to questionable in the morning, while Walker was a scratch a half-hour before tip-off against the Trail Blazers.
Coach Darvin Ham said Brown tweaked his left foot during an individual morning workout. Walker was scratched so late that no Lakers were available to add context before game time.
The Blazers were playing without Damian Lillard, Nassir Little, Josh Hart and