BOSTON AVENGES LOSS TO CLIPPERS
Even from atop the NBA standings, the Boston Celtics remember the losses.
Three weeks after absorbing their worst one of the season in Los Angeles, the Celtics turned back the Clippers in Boston 116-110 on Thursday night, getting 29 points apiece from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
“We definitely wanted to play better than we played last time,” Brown said. “Those guys beat us up pretty bad in L.A. So we wanted to change the narrative tonight on our home floor and come out and get a win.”
The 113-93 defeat in L.A. was their biggest of the season, and it was the first time this year they were held under 100 points.
Kawhi Leonard scored 26 for the Clippers, George had 24 points and Ivica Zubac had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Grizzlies 119, Raptors 106:
Ja Morant had a careerhigh 17 assists and scored 19 points and visiting Memphis won for the first time in three games, beating struggling Toronto.
Pascal Siakam had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto before fouling out, extending his career-best streak with 25 or more to six.
Mavericks 129, Rockets 114: Luka Doncic followed his 60-point triple-double two nights earlier with 35 points in his NBA-best eighth triple-double of the season, and host Dallas beat Houston.
Doncic had 12 rebounds and 13 assists in 34 minutes as Dallas ran its winning streak to a season-best five games.
Jalen Green scored 23 points for the Rockets, who lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Pacers 135, Cavaliers 126: Tyrese Haliburton scored 29 points, Buddy Hield made a 3-pointer three seconds into the game and added 25, and host Indiana beat Cleveland.
All-Star guard Donovan
Mitchell scored 28 points to lead a balanced Cleveland offense.
Hornets 121, Thunder 113: LaMelo Ball had 27 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and Charlotte beat host Oklahoma City for just its third victory in the last 14 games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 28 points for Oklahoma City.
Spurs 122, Knicks 115: Keldon Johnson had 30 points and San Antonio overcame a season-high 41 points from Julius Randle to beat visiting New York, handing the Knicks their fifth straight loss.
Wednesday’s late games Kings 127, Nuggets 126:
Malik Monk scored 33 points and host Sacramento came back from down 19 points late in the third quarter.
Warriors 112, Jazz 107: Jordan Poole scored 26 points and host Golden State rallied to beat Utah.
Notable
Detroit guard Killian Hayes and Orlando’s Moritz Wagner were each given multi-game suspensions for their roles in Wednesday’s scuffle, while the NBA suspended eight Magic players one game apiece for leaving the bench .