Hayward scores 39 in Celts’ win
Hornets stage big comeback vs. Pacers
CLEVELAND — Gordon Hayward capped a perfect night from inside the arc with the biggest basket of the game.
Hayward tied a career high with 39 points, making all 16 of his 2-point attempts, as the Boston Celtics won their fifth straight game by holding off the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-113 on Tuesday.
Hayward hit 17 of 20 shots, including one 3-pointer. He put in Kemba Walker’s miss with 22 seconds left to give Boston a five-point lead. Walker stole the inbounds pass and sank a free throw to put the game away.
Walker had 25 points for Boston, which hasn’t lost since the season opener against Philadelphia.
Hayward scored 16 points in the opening quarter and 22 in the first half, hitting all nine attempts from the field.
Hayward suffered a horrific leg injury in Cleveland during the opening minutes of the 2017-18 season opener. He averaged 16.5 points in two games at Cleveland last season.
Collin Sexton, who scored 21 points, hit a 3 with 1:33 to play that cut Boston’s lead to 116-113. The score remained that way until Hayward’s crucial basket after his offensive rebound.
Boston was 48 of 85 from the field. Jayson Tatum scored 18 points and Carsen Edwards had 13.
Tristan Thompson had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland, which has lost three straight. Love scored 17 and Larry Nance Jr. 15. HORNETS 122, PACERS 120, OT: In Charlotte, N.C., Devonte Graham scored a career-high 35 points, Bismack Biyombo provided a huge spark off the bench late and Charlotte battled back from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat Indiana.
Graham sank 2 of 3 free-throw attempts with 1.7 seconds left in overtime after drawing a foul on JaKarr Sampson, helping the Hornets win their third straight game.
Terry Rozier added 22 points and
Miles Bridges had 18 for the Hornets (4-3).
T.J. Warren scored 33 points on 15-of-18 shooting and Malcolm Brogdon added 31 points for the Pacers (3-4), who had their threegame winning streak snapped.
LAKERS 118, BULLS 112: In Chicago, LeBron James had 30 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his third consecutive tripledouble, and Los Angeles rallied to beat Chicago for its sixth straight victory.
Los Angeles trailed by 19 before shutting down Chicago in the fourth quarter during the finale of a three-game trip. While James turned in another strong performance, he was on the bench for most of a 16-0 run to begin the final period.
Kyle Kuzma, Quinn Cook and Dwight Howard sparked the Lakers’ comeback. Kuzma scored 11 of his 15 points in the fourth, and Howard had a key block on Coby White during the big spurt. Cook made a 3-pointer to give Los Angeles a 94-93 lead with 8:53 remaining.
Cook finished with 17 points, and Anthony Davis had 15 points and seven rebounds. It was Davis’ first game in his native Chicago since he was acquired in a trade with New Orleans.
Chicago lost for the fifth time in six games. Zach LaVine scored 26 points, and White and Otto Porter Jr. each finished with 18. Wendell Carter Jr. had 11 points and 11 rebounds. HAWKS 108, SPURS 100: In Atlanta, Trae Young scored 28 of his 29 points in the second half, Jabari Parker added 19 points and Atlanta moved past the suspension
of John Collins to snap a three-game losing streak.
Young, returning after missing one game with a right ankle sprain, put on some dazzling moves in the fourth quarter to help his team overcome the loss of Collins, who was suspended earlier in the day for 25 games without pay for a violation of the NBA’s anti-drug program after testing positive for a growth hormone.
THUNDER 102, MAGIC 94: In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous Alexander scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half to lift Oklahoma City over Orlando.
Chris Paul added 20 points and six assists for the Thunder (3-4), which held its opponent under 100 points for the fourth time in seven games. Steven Adams had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Aaron Gordon had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Magic (2-5), which has yet to reach 100 points in a game this season. Orlando had six players reach double figures in points, including Jonathan Issac, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Nikola Vucevic had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
NUGGETS 109, HEAT 89: In Denver, Jamal Murray scored 21 points, Will Barton and Jerami Grant had 15 each, and Denver pulled away in the second half to beat Miami.
Jimmy Butler had 16 points and Kelly Olynyk 13 for Miami, which ended a three-game winning streak. It was the first time this season the Heat had failed to score at least 100 points.