Celtics are first to clinch playoff spot
BOSTON — Jaylen Brown scored 37 points and Jayson Tatum added 26 as the Boston Celtics powered past the Phoenix Suns 127-112 on Thursday night, becoming the first team to clinch a spot in the postseason.
Al Horford finished with 24 points, including six of Boston’s season high-tying 25 3-pointers, to help the Celtics down the Suns for the second time in week. Boston improved to an Nba-best 52-14 on the season and 10-2 in the second game of back-to-backs.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 23 points. Bradley Beal finished with 22 points and seven assists. Kevin Durant and Grayson Allen both added 20 points.
Last week, the Celtics overpowered a Suns team playing without Booker (ankle) during a doubledigit win in Phoenix, despite a 45-point night by Durant.
Durant came out hot again in Thursday’s rematch. But Booker started slowly before finishing 9-of-20 from the field. Meanwhile, the All-star duo of Tatum and Brown combined for 43 of the Celtics’ 65 first-half points.
Tatum was in attack mode for most of the opening 24 minutes, leading a Celtics flurry just before halftime by scoring seven of his team’s final 10 points. That included back-to-back 3s over Durant that sent roars throughout the home crowd. He also was one of the primary defenders on Durant, limiting him to only five points over the final three quarters.
Giannis, Bucks take down 76ers
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 11 rebounds to lead the host Milwaukee Bucks past the Philadelphia 76ers 114-105 on Thursday night.
Brook Lopez added 19 points and seven rebounds and Damian Lillard had 17 points and nine assists for the Bucks, who won at home after losing three of four on a West Coast swing, which included a 129-94 drubbing against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points for the 76ers, who closed out a 1-2 road trip. Tobias Harris added 15 points and Cam Payne had 13.
George, Leonard power Clippers
Paul George made six 3-pointers and scored 28 points and Kawhi Leonard added 27 as the visiting Los Angeles Clippers beat the Chicago Bulls 126-111 on Thursday night.
Los Angeles regrouped after a 20-point lead late in the third quarter dwindled to eight in the fourth and stopped a two-game skid, beating Chicago for the second time in six days. Both teams were missing key players with the Clippers’ James Harden (strained left shoulder) and the Bulls’ Coby White (sore right hip) sidelined.
George was 11-of-12 from the field. He made 6-of-7 3s — one shy of a season high — and the Clippers were 20-of-40 from beyond the arc.
Thunder roll past shorthanded Mavs
Shai Gilgeous-alexander had 31 points and nine rebounds to help the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 126-119 on Thursday night.
Dallas guard Luka Doncic missed the game with a sore left hamstring. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said before the game that an MRI on the NBA scoring leader’s injury turned up “clean,” meaning it likely will be a short-term issue. Kidd said Doncic will be reevaluated when the team returns home.