Celtics thump Bulls, 111-82
BOSTON—Kyrie Irving had 17 points and seven assists as the Boston Celtics, back home from a dreadful road trip, routed the Chicago Bulls 111-82 on Wednesday night.
Jaylen Brown scored 18 points and Jayson Tatum added 14 for the Celtics, who lost the final two games on a 1-4 swing that ended out West. Gordon Hayward scored 11 and Al Horford had 10 points and eight rebounds as all five Boston starters reached double figures.
The Celtics capitalized on 22 turnovers by the Bulls, who dropped their second straight and third in four games.
Shaquille Harrison led Chicago with 16 points. Jabari Parker scored 14, all in the first quarter. Zach LaVine finished with 10 points and nine assists, and Wendell Carter Jr. had 11 points and seven rebounds.
After a sluggish first period, the Celtics dominated the second quarter, holding Chicago to 11 points on five field goals. Boston continued to pull away in the second half.
The Celtics held a 22-point lead entering the fourth quarter and emptied their bench. The reserves stretched the advantage to 33 before it was over.
Terry Rozier had 12 points for Boston, and Aaron Baynes finished with nine points and 11 rebounds.
After going 9 for 23 in the first quarter, the Celtics outscored Chicago 32-11 in the second and forced the Bulls into seven turnovers.
Rozier’s free throw after a technical foul on LaVine broke a 28-all tie and started Boston on a 12-0 run. The Celtics shut out the Bulls for 5:14 while pulling ahead 42-30, then closed the period on a 9-2 spurt for a 51-35 halftime lead.
Baynes opened the fourth quarter for Boston with a 3-pointer and added a three-point play with 9:46 remaining to extend the margin to 87-64.
Heat 120, Nets 107
NEW YORK—Tyler Johnson scored a season-high 24 points, Goran Dragic had 21 and the Miami Heat beat the short-handed Brooklyn Nets 120-107 on Wednesday night to snap a threegame losing streak.
Josh Richardson added 15 points and Hassan Whiteside had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat. They never trailed and led by as much as 23, rediscovering their defense after some poor outings during their skid.
Spencer Dinwiddie scored 18 points for the Nets in their first game since losing leading scorer Caris LeVert to a dislocated right foot. He could return this season from what appeared to be a severe injury when he was hurt Monday, but it could be a rough road without him for the Nets if Wednesday’s game was any indication.
Brooklyn also was without starting center Jarrett Allen again because of an illness.