Rockets lose 16th in row
Boston’s Jaylen Brown scored 24 points, Jayson Tatum added 23 and the Celtics extended the Rockets’ losing streak to 16 games — one shy of a franchise record — with a 134107 victory in Houston on Sunday.
It was the fifth win in six games for the Celtics, who overwhelmed a team playing with only one of its regular starters in Victor Oladipo. He led Houston with 26 points on a night the Rockets made 16 of 50 3point attempts.
The Rockets, who haven’t won since Feb. 4, have lost seven straight home games for the first time since 2006.
Pelicans 135, Clippers 115: Zion Williamson scored 27 points, Brandon Ingram added 23 and host New Orleans shot an NBA season-high 65.4% (53-for-81) in its victory over Los Angeles. Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points and Reggie Jackson added 18 for the Clippers.
Bulls 118, Raptors 95: Patrick Williams scored 23 points to help host Chicago deal Toronto its fifth consecutive loss. Norman Powell scored 32 points and Kyle Lowry had 20 for the Raptors before being ejected after picking up his second technical foul for arguing with officials.
76ers 134, Spurs 99: Tobias Harris scored 23 points, Seth Curry had 21 and host Philadelphia won its first game since MVP candidate Joel Embiid was lost with an injury. Embiid is out for at least two weeks with a bone bruise on his left knee. Derrick White and Drew Eubanks led San Antonio with 17 points apiece.
Heat 102, Magic 97: Jimmy Butler scored 29 points, Tyler Herro added 22 and visiting Miami won for the 10th time in 11 games. Orlando guard Terrence Ross scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half.
Hawks 100, Cavaliers 82: John Collins scored 22 points, Danilo Gallinari had 20 and host Atlanta posted its fifth consecutive victory under interim head coach Nate McMillan. Collin Sexton had 15 points for Cleveland, which has lost three in a row.
Timberwolves 114, Trail Blazers 112: Anthony Edwards scored 34 points for host Minnesota. Damian Lillard scored 38 points for Portland.
Thunder 128, Grizzlies 122: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and Aleksej Pokusevski had 23 for host Oklahoma City.