Celtics rip Cavaliers

BOSTON (AP) — After stumbling through a late November slump, the Boston Celtics scored a season-high for the second game in a row.

Kyrie Irving scored 29 points in the first three quarters and was one of seven Boston players in double figures as the Celtics routed the Cleveland Cavaliers 128-95 on Friday night.

"It makes our jobs a lot easier to go out there and play at a high level when we're all doing it, not just a couple guys here and there. We need everybody," Irving said.

Marcus Morris scored 15, Jayson Tatum had 13 points and Aron Baynes finished with 10 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics, who had all five starters score in double figures and broke 100 points before the fourth quarter.

The Celtics dominated inside, outscoring Cleveland in the paint 54-32, and were strong outside as well, making 17 of 31 3-pointers.

Irving made 11 of 15 shots and was 5-for-7 from 3-point range as the Celtics surpassed their 124 points scored Monday in a win at New Orleans.

"Nobody's going to play perfect, but I think that our approach was good," coach Brad Stevens said. "They stayed the course. They played together. A lot of the guys did a lot of good things and kind of built off of what we've talked about." Complete results: Boston 128, Cleveland 95; Detroit 107, Chicago 88; Philadelphia 123, Washington 98; Utah 119, Charlotte 111; Memphis 131, Brooklyn 125, 2OT; Houston 136, San Antonio 105; Miami 106, New Orleans 101; Oklahoma City 124, Atlanta 109; Orlando 99, Phoenix 85; Denver 113, Portland 112; and L.A. Lakers 114, Dallas 103