Celtics handle Clippers, who were missing Leonard

Kemba Walker had 25 points and six assists, and the Boston Celtics took advantage of a late scratch of All-Star Kawhi Leonard and held off the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 117-112 on Tuesday night.

Jaylen Brown finished with 18 points as the Celtics posted three straight victories for the first time since January.

The Clippers, who have lost five of eight, played without Leonard after he was ruled out shortly before the game due to back spasms.

Paul George led Los Angeles with 32 points.

HAWKS 94, HEAT 80 >> Trae Young scored 18 points, including 13 straight in the fourth quarter, to help make Nate McMillan a winner in his debut as interim coach of Atlanta, which fired head coach Lloyd Pierce on Monday.

GRIZZLIES 125, WIZARDS 111 >> Ja Morant had 35 points and 10 assists for Memphis.

Russell Westbrook had 23 points and 15 assists for Washington.

RAPTORS WILL BE SHORTHANDED UPON RETURN >> Toronto will have enough players to get back on the floor tonight, after a pair of games were postponed for virus-related issues.

But the Raptors will be seriously short-handed when they host the Detroit Pistons in Tampa, Florida — with starters Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby all ruled out in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols, along with Malachi Flynn and Patrick McCaw.

HARDEN RETURNS TO HOUSTON >> James Harden will return to Houston tonight for the first time since he forced his way out of the city in a trade.

And while the Brooklyn Nets star guard could hear the boos from the 4,500 or so fans in the Toyota Center, he’s clearly won over his new team.

With Harden, the Nets have catapulted from a 7-6 team to a 23-13 squad that is in second place in the Eastern Conference.

In 22 games with Brooklyn, Harden has averaged 25.3 points on 49.0 percent shooting from the field and 41.9 percent from 3-point range. He has 19 double-doubles and seven triple-doubles.