Lee, Porzingis propel Knicks past Grizzlies

NEW YORK — Courtney Lee scored 24 points, Kristaps Porzingis had 18 after a slow start in his return to the lineup, and the New York Knicks beat the Memphis Grizzlies 99-88 on Wednesday night.

Moving from forward back to shooting guard in Tim Hardaway Jr.’s absence, Lee fell just shy of his season high and was the catalyst in a big run to open the second half that largely determined the game.

Porzingis scored 12 after halftime as the Knicks rebounded from consecutive losses without their top two scorers that had dropped them under .500.

Porzingis came back from his sprained right ankle and illness, but the Knicks announced Tuesday that Hardaway had a stress injury in his lower left leg and had begun a treatment and rehabilitation plan. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Marc Gasol had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Grizzlies, who were playing for the first time since ending their 11-game skid with a victory over Minnesota on Monday. Tyreke Evans added 15 points but was just 4 for 13 from the floor.

Porzingis was just 3 for 11 for six points in the first half, but hit a deep 3-pointer to open the third quarter and the Knicks took off from there. Lee had a pair of baskets and then consecutive 3s late in what became a 19-2 run that made it 68-51.

New York kept a safe lead from there and when Memphis trimmed it to 88-82 with about five minutes remaining, Lee scored in the lane and Porzingis followed with a basket and a 3-pointer to push it back to 95-82.

CELTICS 97, MAVERICKS 90: Kyrie Irving had 23 points and five assists, and Jayson Tatum added 17 points and 10 rebounds to help short-handed Boston slip past Dallas.

Boston’s Al Horford finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Boston has won four straight and six of their last seven.

The Celtics played without Jaylen Brown and Marcus Morris. Brown sat with an inflamed right eye, while Morris was out due to left knee soreness.

It forced coach Brad Stevens to rely heavily on his reserves. They came through in the fourth, leading a 10-0 run to put Boston back in front 80-73.

Dallas fought back to tie it up at 85. But the Celtics ran off eight straight points to push their lead to 93-85 with 2 minutes to play.

Andres Kudacki / Associated Press The Grizzlies’ James Ennis III, left competes for the ball with the Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis, center, during the first half Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.