Celtics get win after Brown takes hard fall
Kyrie Irving returned from a one-game absence to help Boston fend off Minnesota, finishing with 23 points, seven rebounds and eight assists to pace the Celtics in a 117-109 victory over the Timberwolves on Thursday night.
Al Horford added 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists and tough defense on Karl-Anthony Towns for the Celtics, who stayed two games behind Toronto in the Eastern Conference race with their sixth win in seven games.
Nemanja Bjelica scored a career-high 30 points on 11for-16 shooting, including 6 for 9 from 3-point range.
The Celtics victory was tempered a bit by the hard landing former Jaylen Brown took on his back after a dunk late in the third quarter. He left with 14 points for evaluation of concussion-like symptoms.
Andrew Wiggins ( 13 points) had his streak of five straight 20-point games end.
• Derrick Rose signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in amove that reunites the 2011 NBA MVP with three mainstays from his days in Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau, as well as Butler and Taj Gibson. The Timberwolves did not release the terms, but a person familiar with the situation said that the deal is for the remainder of the season. HEAT 108, 76ERS 99 » Hassan Whiteside scored 26 points, and Miami moved a step closer to the playoffs by beating Philadelphia. The Heat remained No. 7 in the Eastern Conference and moved within a game of No. 6 Philadelphia. Dario Saric had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the 76ers. THUNDER 115, SUNS 97 » Russell Westbrook had 27 points, eight rebounds and nine assists to help Oklahoma City rout Phoenix. Paul George added 21 points, Corey Brewer had 17, Steven Adams 16, and Carmelo Anthony 11. Brewer replaced Josh Huestis in the starting lineup. The Suns lost their fourth game in a row. WADE IMPRESSED WITH STUDENTS AT PARK LAND SCHOOL » Dwyane Wade went to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida, hoping to spread some goodwill and bring muchneeded smiles to faces of students and teachers. He also went to listen and was impressed by what the kids said.
Speaking Thursday about his surprise visit the previous day to the school where 17 people— mostly students — were shot and killed last month, the Miami Heat guard said he was stunned to see how well- organized the Douglas students are already in their quest for fast and substantive societal change.
“They are well-prepared and-well-aware ofwhat they need to do and what they want to do and the change they want to see,” Wade said. “It’s great. It’s great to hear. It’s great to see that, because I come from a community in Chicago where our youth are getting killed daily and don’t have the same voice, don’t have the same light on them that Parkland has. These kids understand what they have.” DAVIS MAY SIT » The Pelicans’ Anthony Davis is questionable for Friday’s game with the Wizards after spraining his ankle in Wednesday’s win.