Hayward scores 14 points in return, Celtics beat Cavaliers
BOSTON >> Kemba Walker led Boston’s balanced scoring with 22 points, Gordon Hayward had 14 points in his return from a broken hand and the Celtics remained unbeaten at home with a 110-88 victory over the sinking Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night.
Jaylen Brown had 20 points and seven rebounds, Jayson Tatum added 19 points with 11 boards, and Daniel Theis scored 10 for Boston, which improved to 10-0 at TD Garden.
Jordan Clarkson led Cleveland with 19 points, and Tristan Thompson had 17 points with 11 rebounds. The Cavaliers have lost seven straight games and 13 of 14.
Hayward returned exactly a month after breaking his left hand when he collided with San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge as the Spurs’ big man was setting a screen. Hayward played 26 minutes, finishing with five rebounds and four assists.
He was expected to miss about six weeks. But he said this weekend the bone is healed and — thanks to a plate with screws — might even be stronger than it was before.
BUCKS 100, MAGIC 101 >> Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 15 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to its 15th straight victory.
Khris Middleton scored
20 points for Milwaukee and Dante DiVincenzo added 12 points off the bench. RAPTORS 93, BULLS 92 >> Pascal Siakam scored 22 points, and Toronto held on to beat Chicago when Zach LaVine missed a runner in the closing seconds.
CLIPPERS 110, PACERS 99 >> Paul George scored 36 points in his first trip to Indianapolis with the Clippers and Montrezl Harrell added 26 to power shorthanded Los Angeles Clippers past Indiana.
Booed repeatedly early in the game, George finished
with a season-high seven 3-pointers as the Clippers won for the fourth time in five games.
PISTONS 105, PELICANS 103 >> Derrick Rose hit a 14-foot jumper in the lane with 0.3 seconds left and scored 17 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to lift Detroit over New Orleans.
THUNDER 104, JAZZ 90 >> Dennis Schroder scored 27 points off the bench and Oklahoma City beat Utah.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points and Chris Paul added 16 points and seven assists for the Thunder.
Steven Adams chipped in with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
SUNS 125, TIMBERWOLVES 109 >> Devin Booker scored 26 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 24 on his 24th birthday and Phoenix beat Minnesota.
Oubre shot 8 of 15 from the field and made all six free throws, while Ricky Rubio finished with 16 points and 14 assists. The Suns won at home for the first time since Nov. 14, snapping a four-game losing streak at Talking Stick Resort Arena.