Refreshed Horford helps Celtics extend win streak
Boston slips past Raptors for 12th straight victory
BOSTON — Al Horford turned back the clock in his return from a two-game absence with a concussion.
Horford scored 21 points on 8-for-9 shooting to help the Boston Celtics hang on to beat the Toronto Raptors 95-94 on Sunday for their 12th straight victory.
“He’s playing young again,” teammate Terry Rozier said.
Horford had 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists against his former team in Atlanta last Monday, the same day an elbow to the head from Kent Bazemore sent him into the NBA’S concussion protocol. Horford also missed nine games last season with a concussion.
Horford disagreed with Rozier’s assessment, thinking he’s playing even better.
“I don’t know if young Al Horford played like this, to be honest,” the former four-time All-star said. “You know, it’s been years of just working on my game and try to play this new way.”
Boston (12-2) was playing without Kyrie Irving after he took an inadvertent elbow to the face from teammate Aron Baynes on Friday against Charlotte. Irving has what the team termed a “minor” facial fracture but has not been diagnosed with a concussion as initially feared.
Jaylen Brown added 18 points, and Rozier helped fill in for Irving with 16 points off the bench. Boston shot just 40.2 percent from the field.
Demar Derozan had 24 points and Kyle Lowry 19 points and seven assists for Toronto, which fell to 7-5 after winning two straight.
“They are the best team in the NBA right now, 12 in a row,” Lowry said. “They’re playing unbelievable; everyone is picking up slack.”
Jayson Tatum’s acrobatic layup with 1:26 left put the Celtics up 95-90.
At Detroit, Tobias Harris scored 25 points and Findlay Prep product Avery Bradley 24 for Detroit
Pistons 112, Heat 103 —
(10-3), which pulled away with a 10-0 fourth-quarter run in continuing its best start since going 10-2 in 2005-06. Hassan Whiteside had 20 points and 12 rebounds for Miami.
At Oklahoma City, Paul George scored 37 points and Russell Westbrook 27 for Oklahoma City, which overcame the absence of starters Carmelo Anthony (sore lower back) and Steven Adams (right calf contusion). Harrison Barnes had 22 points and 13 rebounds for Dallas.
At Indianapolis, James Harden had 26 points and 15 assists and Clint Capela 20 points and 17 rebounds for Houston, which made 17 3-pointers, notched 10 steals and never trailed. Victor Oladipo scored 28 points for Indiana.
Thunder 112, Mavericks 99— Rockets 118, Pacers 95 —