Irving’s overtime magic helps Celtics get better of Raptors
Boston’s Kyrie Irving scored 17 in all in the last 8:06 of the fourth quarter. Then, in overtime, he turned it on.
The Celtics guard made or assisted on every basket in the extra period, finishing with 11 assists and 43 points Friday to lead host Boston past the Toronto Raptors 123-116.
“Man, he made some shots tonight where you’re just like, ‘Wow,’ ” Celtics forward Gordon Hayward said. “You catch yourself being a fan. When he gets into that mode, the whole arena knew where we were going, and so did the Raptors.”
It was the first time Irving has scored at least 40 points with 10 or more assists in a game. He was the first player do it in the NBA this year, and the first Celtics player to do so since Antoine Walker in 2001.
“Kyrie did a great job in the fourth quarter knocking down shots,” said Kawhi Leonard, who scored 31 points and had 15 rebounds for Toronto. “We fought hard tonight, they played a better game and we’ve just got to keep playing better.”
Jayson Tatum had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Celtics, who evened the season series at one game apiece against the only team to finish above them in the Eastern Conference last season. The home team has won nine straight matchups.
Serge Ibaka scored 21 and Pascal Siakam had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost three straight.
“It was just a veteran game out there, just great competition for a Friday night in the NBA,” Irving said. “You’ve got to appreciate that, two great teams going at it. And I’m pretty sure we’ll see them down the road.” Sixers 113, Jazz 107: Jimmy Butler had 28 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals in his home debut with his new team as Philadelphia defeated Utah.
Joel Embiid added 23 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals forthe 76ers. Grizzlies 112, Kings 104: Rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 27 points and Marc Gasol added 19 points and 15 rebounds — becoming Memphis’ all-time leading rebounder — as the host Grizzlies beat Sacramento. Timberwolves 114, Trail Blazers 96: Andrew Wiggins scored 23 points, Derrick Rose had 17 and host Minnesota defeated Portland. Nets 115, Wizards 104: Spencer Dinwiddie scored 25 points, D’Angelo Russell had 23 and Brooklyn won at Washington for its first win since Caris LeVert’s gruesome foot injury. Pelicans 129, Knicks 124: Anthony Davis had 43 points and 17 rebounds and New Orleans overcame an 11-point fourthquarter deficit to beat visiting New York. Pacers 99, Heat 91: Tyreke Evans made five three-pointers and scored 23 points as host Indiana defeated Miami. Bucks 123, Bulls 104: Eric Bledsoe scored 25 points, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo each added 23 points and Milwaukee erased a 22-point deficit to beat Chicago. New role: Point guard Sue Bird, who helped the Seattle Storm win the WNBA title in September, has joined the Nuggets’ front office as an associate in what amounts to an apprenticeship. Bird, 38, intends to return to the Storm in the spring for her 17th season.