No magic for Celtics in Orlando
Boston’s rally comes up short when Tatum’s jumper can’t find mark
Orlando, Fla. Aaron Gordon had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic held off a late rally to beat the Boston Celtics 105-103 on Saturday night.
Jayson Tatum missed a jumper at the buzzer that would have tied it for the Celtics, who charged back from a nine-point deficit in the final 1:43 before losing to the Magic for the second time this season.
Kyrie Irving scored 25 points for the Celtics, 10 of them from the foul line in the final 4:31 as Boston made its late charge. He appeared frustrated afterward with Gordon Hayward, who inbounded the ball on Boston’s final possession.
Pistons 109, Clippers 104: Blake Griffin scored 44 points in his return to Staples Center for the first time against his old team and Detroit beat Los Angeles to snap a four-game skid. Griffin was greeted with cheers during pregame introductions and received a standing ovation after a first-quarter video tribute from the team that drafted him first overall in 2009.
Heat 112, Grizzlies 108: Justise Winslow scored 26 points, Dwyane Wade had a huge blocked shot in the final seconds and Miami beat Memphis. Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson each scored 14 for Miami, which reached the midpoint of the season at 21-20. Jamychal Green scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies.
Timberwolves 110, Pelicans 106: Karl-anthony Towns had 27 points and a career-high 27 rebounds to help Minnesota hold off Anthony Davis and New Orleans for a victory that was the first at home for interim head coach Ryan Saunders. Towns swished a 3-pointer to make it 106-103 with 2:55 left, giving the Timberwolves the lead for good. Then he blocked a 3-point try by Davis on the other end, triggering a fast break that Tyus Jones finished with a layup.
Thunder 122, Spurs 112: Dennis Schroder scored all of his 19 points in the second half to help Oklahoma City beat San Antonio. Russell Westbrook had 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Oklahoma City, which bounced back from a 154-147 loss in double-overtime to the Spurs on Thursday. Demar Derozan led the Spurs with 18 points.
Suns 102, Nuggets 93: Kelly Oubre Jr. matched his career high with 26 points for the second time in three games and the Suns beat the Nuggets, a victory for the team with the worst record in the Western Conference over the team with the best. Deandre Ayton added 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, who have won two of three with Devin Booker sidelined with back spasms. Oubre also tied his career best with 11 rebounds. Denver fell to just a half-game ahead of Golden State.
Note: Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea tore his right Achilles tendon in a game against Minnesota, a seasonending setback for a key Mavericks’ reserve. Barea was injured in the second half of the Mavericks’ 119-115 victory in Minneapolis on Friday night. The team said Saturday that Barea was weighing his options for surgery.