Hayward scores 26, helps Boston down Philly again
Gordon Hayward scored 26 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:50 remaining, and Boston beat Philadelphia 112-109 on Tuesday.
Al Horford had 23 points, and Jayson Tatum scored 20 and grabbed 10 rebounds to help the Celtics continue their dominance over the Sixers.
Playing without All-star point guard Kyrie Irving, who sprained his right knee Saturday, the Celtics beat Philadelphia for the third straight time this season after defeating Philadelphia in five games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season.
Joel Embiid had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Jimmy Butler scored 22 for Philadelphia.
At Oakland, Calif., Stephen Curry made a pair of pivotal 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, Kevin Durant had 28 points and seven assists, and Golden State rallied from behind for the third consecutive game to beat Utah. Klay Thompson scored 22 and Demarcus Cousins added 12 points and 10 rebounds to help Golden State to its fourth straight win and 16th in 17 games.
At Atlanta, rookie Trae Young had 22 points and 14 assists, John Collins also scored 22 points despite foul trouble, and the Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak despite a triple-double from Lebron James (28 points, 16 assists, 11 rebounds).
At New Orleans, disgruntled star Anthony Davis scored three points on 1-of-9 shooting and was outplayed badly by big man Nikola Vucevic as Orlando beat the listless Pelicans. Davis played 24 minutes in his third game since his agent told New Orleans the six-time All-star wanted to be traded and won’t sign an extension.
At Memphis, Tenn., Lamarcus Aldridge scored 22 points, including San
Antonio’s final seven, as the Spurs broke a four-game losing streak.