Brown scores 32, Celtics hold on for win over Knicks

BOSTON — Jaylen Brown had 32 points and 10 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the New York Knicks 101-99 on Wednesday night.

Jayson Tatum committed eight turnovers but finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Marcus Smart added 17 points, 14 in the fourth quarter, and nine assists for the Celtics, who have won three of four.

Tristan Thompson had seven points, eight rebounds and three blocks in his return after missing 12 games due to the league’s health and safety protocols.

RJ Barrett scored 29 points and Julius Randle added 22 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks, who have dropped two straight.

New York and Boston entered the day tied for seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The game was tight throughout, featuring eight ties and 17 lead changes.

The Celtics trailed by seven early in the fourth quarter before using a 7-0 run to edge in front 87-85.

It was 91-88 when Tatum had a pass intercepted, leading to a dunk on the other end by Randle.

Smart missed a 3 and New York looked to take the lead, but Barrett had his pass picked off by Grant Williams, leading to a layup by Brown that made it 93-90 with 1:02 remaining.

Barrett tied it with a 3pointer and Smart answered with a 3 of his own. Alec Burks came up short on step-back 3, and the Celtics closed it out from the free-throw line.

NETS 139, PELICANS 111

NEW YORK — Kevin Durant returned from a 23-game absence to spark Brooklyn’s most explosive half of the season, finishing with 17 points and perfect shooting in the Nets’ 139-111 rout of the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.

Durant came off the bench with about 7 1⁄2 minutes left in the second quarter and by the time the period ended the Nets had 79 points and a 20-point halftime lead. Brooklyn was a sizzling 14 for 18 (78%) in its 43-point quarter.

Durant went 5 for 5 and added seven rebounds and five assists in 19 minutes in his return from a strained left hamstring. He was originally listed in the starting lineup, but was removed in a revised lineup distributed minutes before his first game since Feb. 13.

The All-Star forward got an ovation from the first home crowd he’d played in front of with the Nets. Barclays Center only began allowing limited crowds on Feb. 23.

Kyrie Irving scored 24 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 in the Nets’ ninth straight home win.

Eric Bledsoe scored 26 points for the Pelicans before being ejected in the third quarter.