Tatum, Brown lead surging Celtics
Boston cruises past Pelicans for third victory in four games
Jayson Tatum scored 38 points, Jaylen Brown added 31 and the Boston Celtics beat the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 107-97 on Saturday night.
Robert Williams grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked four shots for Boston, which led by double digits for most of the game en route to a third victory in four games, with two of those triumphs coming on the road.
New Orleans undrafted rookie guard Jose Alvarado scored a career-best 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting, going 3-for-4 from 3-point range. But the Pelicans were outshot by Boston 53.1 percent to 43.9 percent and lost their third straight.
Warriors 110, Nets 106:
Klay Thompson hit the biggest shot yet of his 21⁄2-year injury comeback, smoothly sinking a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left to send Golden State to a victory over Kyrie Irving and Brooklyn. Irving wasn’t done and made a 3 of his own moments later and scored 32 points while hearing boos from the Bay Area crowd directed at the unvaccinated Nets star. Thompson finished with 16 points. Stephen Curry hit a go-ahead 3pointer with 5:09 left and five free throws over the final 1:44 to score 19 points as Irving kept delivering on the other end without the injured Kevin Durant and James Harden. Mavericks 132, Pacers 105: Luka Doncic had 30 points and 12 assists and Dallas spoiled former coach Rick Carlisle’s return with Indiana, routing the Pacers. Carlisle coached the Mavericks during the past 13 seasons, leading the team to its lone title in 2011. He resigned June 16 and rejoined the Pacers a week later. The 62-year-old coach was recognized with a video tribute before the game, tears streaming down his face afterward.
76ers 103, Kings 101: Joel Embiid scored 36 points, Tyrese Maxey keyed a game-changing run in the fourth quarter and Philadelphia won its fourth in a row.
Grizzlies 115, Wizards 95: Ja Morant scored 34 points, his sixth straight game of at least 30 points, and Memphis beat Washington.
Raptors 124, Heat 120 (OT): Fred VanVleet hit two 3-pointers in the third overtime and Toronto outlasted Miami.