Irving scores 37, leads Nets to rout of Celtics
BOSTON» Kyrie Irving scored 37 points with eight assists in his return to Boston and Kevin Durant added 29 for Brooklyn on Friday to lead the Nets to a 123-95 victory over the Celtics.
Jarrett Allen added 11 rebounds for the Nets, who remained perfect so far this season and sent Boston to its first loss. Irving was 7 of 10 from 3-point range in his first regular-season game at TD Garden since he opted out of his Celtics contract in 2019.
“We’re going to continue to see them. We’re in the same division,” Irving said, adding that there was “nothing added” to his motivation in playing his former team.
Jaylen Brown scored 27 with eight rebounds for the Celtics and Jayson Tatum had 20 points and eight boards. The Celtics beat Milwaukee in their opener on Wednesday on Tatum’s last-second shot over Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they couldn’t do it again in their second straight matchup against a team expected to contend in the Eastern Conference this season.
“The benefit of playing these two games against two other great teams is that it forces you to be better,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. “It tests you to see where you’re at, it sets the bar, and now you know what you have to strive for.”
The game began after a moment of silence for former Celtics player and coach K.C. Jones, who died earlier Friday.
Durant scored 16 points in the third quarter, when the Nets outscored Boston 35-23 to turn a three-point deficit into an 8677 lead. He scored nine straight Brooklyn points at the beginning of the third when the Nets took the lead for good.
“It’s still impressive to watch after all these years,” Nets coach Steve Nash said. “For him to have little runs like that is nothing in his mind. For mere mortals in the
NBA, it’s impossible to think of.” LAKERS 138, MAVERICKS 115 » Anthony Davis scored 28 points and LeBron James had 22 while becoming the second-leading Christmas scorer in NBA his
tory during Los Angeles’ victory over Dallas.
James moved into second place behind Kobe Bryant for the most points scored on Christmas, passing Oscar Robertson in the third quarter. James has 383 points in 15 games on Christmas, while Bryant had 395 in 16 holiday appearances.
HEAT 111, PELICANS 98 » Duncan Robinson made seven 3-pointers — tying the Christmas single-game mark — and scored 23 points, helping Miami beat New Orleans.
Goran Dragic added 18 points, and Erik Spoelstra moved to 8-0 on Christmas as coach of the Heat. Bam Adebayo scored 17 for Miami, and Avery Bradley finished with 12.
The Heat lost Jimmy Butler at halftime with right ankle stiffness.
BUCKS 138, WARRIORS 99 » Khris Middleton scored 31 points and Milwaukee won its first Christmas Day home game in over half a century.
Middleton went 6 for 8 from 3-point range, leading a strong performance from deep for his team. Milwaukee was 20 of 37 from beyond the arc.