Celtics’ Tatum scores 41 in overtime victory
Jayson Tatum scored a season-high 41 points, Jaylen Brown added 30, including an emphatic dunk in overtime, and the Boston Celtics beat Charlotte, 140-129, Monday night at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., handing the Hornets their first loss of the season.
Dennis Schroder had nine of his 23 points in overtime, and Robert Williams added 12 points and 16 rebounds in a game that featured 28 lead changes.
Miles Bridges had 25 points and 10 rebounds and LaMelo Ball added 25 points on seven 3-pointers for the Hornets before fouling out in overtime. Kelly Oubre added 19 points for Charlotte (3-1), which was seeking its first 40 start in franchise history.
Both teams had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but had difficulty inbounding the ball, resulting in neither team getting a shot off in the game’s final 15 seconds.
Charlotte fell behind by four at one point in overtime, but Ball converted a long 3 to give the Hornets the lead with 3:25 left and then made two free throws to push the lead to 3. But it was all Celtics from there.
Other games
Nets 104, Wizards 90: Kevin Durant scored 25 points and host Brooklyn bounced back from a poor finish a day earlier with a blistering start that sent them to a victory against Washington. Patty Mills made five 3-pointers and added 21 points off the bench, while James Harden finished with 14 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds.
Heat 107, Magic 90: Jimmy Butler scored 36 points on 15-for-21 shooting, Bam Adebayo added 16 points and 13 rebounds and host Miami pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Orlando. Markieff Morris had 16 points off the Miami bench, and Tyler Herro finished with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists for the Heat. Miami was 19 for 19 from the free-throw line.
Bucks 119, Pacers 109:
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, and Khris Middleton added 27 points as defending NBA champion Milwaukee beat host Indiana. Coach Mike Budenholzer held out two injured starters — center Brook Lopez and guard Jrue Holiday — as well as key backup Bobby Portis. Yet they still had enough scoring punch to pull away from the Pacers, who have lost three of their first four games.
Bulls 111, Raptors 108:
DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points against his former team, Zach LaVine had 22 points and visiting Chicago opened a season with four consecutive wins for the first time since 1996-97, holding off Toronto. Nikola Vucevic scored 17 points and Lonzo Ball had 15 as the Bulls won their fourth meeting in a row with Toronto.
Hawks 122, Pistons 104:
Trae Young had 32 points and nine assists and John Collins scored 22 in Atlanta’s win over Detroit. The Hawks have won 24 of their past 30 home games, including playoff games, dating to Feb. 21.
Pelicans 107, Timberwolves 98: Jonas Valanciunas had 22 points and 23 rebounds as visiting New Orleans picked up its first win of this season in four tries.
Cavaliers 99, Nuggets 87:
Jarrett Allen had 21 points and 13 rebounds as visiting Cleveland handed Denver its first loss of the season.