Celtics make 24 threes, and shoot down the Bucks

BOSTON >> Kyrie Irving scored

28 points, making six of Boston’s franchise record 24

3-pointers, as the Celtics knocked off the last unbeaten team in the NBA with a 117113 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.

Gordon Hayward added a season-high 18 points, Al Horford also scored 18 and Marcus Morris had 17 points for the Celtics, who held off the Bucks in the final minute and put an end to Milwaukee’s unbeaten start.

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the lineup after missing one game while in the NBA’s concussion protocol and led Milwaukee with

33 points and 11 rebounds. Down 15 entering the fourth quarter, the Bucks opened the final period on a

12-0 run and were within a point in the final minute, but the Celtics held on for their fourth straight win.

KINGS 146, HAWKS 115 >> De’Aaron Fox set career highs with 31 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds for his first career triple-double, and Sacramento beat Atlanta for its fifth straight victory.

Buddy Hield scored 27 points and Nemanja Bjelica had 19. The Kings’ winning streak includes four straight against Eastern Conference teams, including the last three on the road. THUNDER 111, HORNETS 107 >> Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds and Oklahoma City overcame a 19-point third-quarter deficit.

Alex Abrines had 25 points on five 3-pointers to help the Thunder win their third straight.

NUGGETS 110, CAVALIERS 91 >> Juancho Hernangomez scored 23 points, Paul Millsap added 16 and Denver rolled past Cleveland.

The Nuggets won their third straight to improve to 7-1. On Wednesday night in Chicago, they beat the Bulls 108107 in overtime on Millsap’s putback with 0.1 seconds left.

Smith wants trade

CLEVELAND >> J.R. Smith has added another tier to the Cavaliers’ mounting troubles.

Dropped from the rotation and unhappy with his role on a team rebuilding through youth, Smith said Thursday that he wants to be traded. The enigmatic guard said he hasn’t formally requested a trade by Cleveland’s front office because the Cavs are already aware of his feelings.

“They know,” Smith said following shootaround. “They don’t want me, so they obviously know.”

Smith, 33, said he was told earlier this season that the Cavs would be focused on playing their younger players to develop them for the future.