Magic win for 3rd time in 20 games
BOSTON — Elfrid Payton had 22 points and the Orlando Magic won for just the third time in their last 20 games, overcoming Kyrie Irving’s 40 points to beat the Boston Celtics 103-95 on Sunday.
Orlando snapped a 14-game losing streak at Boston. The Magic had lost 10 in a row on the road overall since early December.
Irving sat out Boston’s previous game to rest a sore left shoulder. Despite his efforts, the Celtics dropped their season-worst third straight home game.
Evan Fournier added 19 and Aaron Gordon had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic.
Trailing 59-58 at halftime, Orlando outscored the Celtics 32-12 in the third quarter while shooting 60 percent.
The Magic held Boston to four field goals, three by Irving, and led 90-71 after three.
Jayson Tatum sparked a fourthquarter run by scoring seven of his nine points to draw the Celtics to 93-84, but both teams traded points and Orlando maintained control the rest of the way. Jordan Clarkson had 29 points and 10 assists, Julius Randle added 27 points and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks for their sixth win in eight games. Kyle Kuzma added 15 points for the Lakers (17-29), who continued their midseason surge of solid play. Rookie point guard Alex Caruso set career highs with nine points and eight assists, making the most of extensive playing time in the absence of injured Lonzo Ball. Spencer Dinwiddie’s jumper with 0.9 seconds left lifted the Brooklyn Nets over Detroit, the Pistons’ fifth straight loss. After a basket by Andre Drummond put the Pistons ahead with 4.7 seconds left, Dinwiddie took the inbounds pass, drove to 14 feet and drained a jumper against his former teammates. Caris LeVert split a pair of free throws with 13.7 seconds left, giving the Nets a 99-98 edge. It was the second time he missed a free throw in the final 42 seconds. Dinwiddie finished with 22 points. Tobias Harris led the Pistons with 20.