Tatum scores 28 as Celtics defeat Hawks

JAYSON Tatum scored 15 of his team-high 28 points in the third quarter as the visiting Boston Celtics took control of the game en route to a 123-115 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. Tatum was 10 for 20 from the field with five 3-pointers and had seven rebounds. He was one of three Celtics in double figures in scoring, joining Gordon Hayward with 24 points and Jaylen Brown with 21. Hayward added seven rebounds and six assists. The Hawks trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half but pulled to within two on a Kevin Huerter jumper that made the score 103-101. Hayward answered with back-to-back baskets, and Atlanta never got closer than three points. Atlanta was led by Trae Young with 34 points and seven assists. But Young committed nine turnovers, including one with a minute left when the Hawks were down by four. The Hawks also got 23 points from Huerter, who made five 3s. John Collins added 22 points and 11 rebounds. LeVert scores 29 as Nets take down Suns Caris LeVert tied a career high with 29 points as the Brooklyn Nets took control in the third quarter and recorded a 119-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns Monday night in New York. LeVert produced his sixth 20-point game of the season and second since returning Jan. 4 from right thumb surgery on an injury he suffered in Phoenix on Nov. 12. He matched his previous season high of 27 by hitting a 3-pointer with 8:07 remaining that gave Brooklyn a 103-82 lead and tied his career best set Nov. 2, 2018, against Houston by hitting an 11-foot fallaway jumper in the lane that made it 109-89 with 3:41 remaining. LeVert made 10 of 20 shots, hit all seven free throws attempts and also handed out a season-high seven assists as the Nets won for the fourth time in six games while playing without Kyrie Irving (sprained right knee), who is out for at least a week. Joe Harris added 16 after announcing he will defend his 3-point shootout title at All-Star weekend in Chicago. Taurean Prince added 11 of his 15 points in the third quarter when the Nets outscored Phoenix, 35-21, shot 61.9 percent and held the Suns to 37.5 percent. Spencer Dinwiddie contributed 14 as the Nets shot 48.3 percent, hit 15 3-pointers and matched their largest margin of victory this season.