Irving scores 37 in Nets’ win over Celtics

BOSTON

Kyrie Irving scored 37 points in his return to Boston and Kevin Durant added 29, leading the Brooklyn Nets to a 12395 win over the Celtics Friday.

Jarrett Allen added 11 rebounds for the Nets, who remained perfect so far this season and sent Boston to its first loss. Irving was 7 of 10 from 3-point range in his first regular-season game at TD Garden since he opted out of his Celtics contract in 2019.

Jaylen Brown scored 27 points for the Celtics, and Jayson Tatum had 20 points and eight boards. The Celtics beat Milwaukee in their opener on Wednesday on Tatum’s lastsecond shot over Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they couldn’t do it again in their second straight matchup against a team expected to contend in the Eastern

Conference this season.

The game began after a moment of silence for former Celtics player and coach K.C. Jones, who died earlier Friday.

HEAT 111, PELICANS 98

MIAMI — Duncan

Robinson made seven 3-pointers — tying the Christmas single-game mark — and scored 23 points, leading Miami to the victory.

Goran Dragic added 18 points, and Erik Spoelstra moved to 8-0 on Christmas as coach of the Heat. Bam Adebayo scored 17 for Miami, and Avery Bradley had 12.

The Heat lost Jimmy Butler at halftime with right ankle stiffness.

Zion Williamson had 32 points and 14 rebounds in 38 minutes for New Orleans — the rebounds and minutes both being career highs. Brandon Ingram finished with 28 points.

But the Pelicans shot 40% to Miami’s 51%.

BUCKS 138, WARRIORS 99

MILWAUKEE — Khris Middleton scored 31 points and Milwaukee won its first Christmas Day home game in over half a century.

Middleton went 6 for 8 from 3-point range, leading a strong performance from deep for his team. Milwaukee was 20 of 37 from beyond the arc, while Golden State was 10 of 45.