NBA Roundup: Kyrie Irving scores 37 points, Kevin Durant adds 29 as Nets pull away from Celtics,
BOSTON » Kyrie Irving scored 37 points in his return to Boston and Kevin Durant added 29, leading the Brooklyn Nets to a 12395 victory over the Celtics on Friday.
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.
Jaylen Brown scored 27 points 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 game began after a moment of silence for former Celtics player and coach K.C. Jones, who died earlier Friday.
HEAT 111, PELICANS 98 » Duncan Robinson made seven 3- pointers — tying the Christmas singlegame mark — and scored 23 points, leading Miami to the victory.
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.
Zion Williamson had 32 points and 14 rebounds in 38 minutes for New Orleans — the rebounds and minutes both being career highs. Brandon Ingram finished with 28 points.
But the Pelicans shot
40% to Miami’s 51%. LAKERS 138, MAVERICKS 115 » Anthony Davis scored 28 points and LeBron James had 22 while becoming the second-leading Christmas scorer in NBA history during Los Angeles’ victory over Dallas.
Montrezl Harrell scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half.
Luka Doncic had 27 points and seven assists for Dallas.