NBA-leading Celtics outlast Pacers, 142-138, in OT
INDIANAPOLIS — Jayson Tatum scored 31 points, including the final four in the last minute of overtime, and the Boston Celtics outlasted the Indiana Pacers 142138 on Thursday night.
Jaylen Brown added 30 points as the Celtics improved the NBA’s best record to 43-17.
It was 138-all with 56.2 seconds left before Tatum hit a pair of free throws. He capped the scoring with a tip-in off the glass with 10.4 seconds to go.
Myles Turner tied his career high with 40 points for Indiana. He made a career-best eight 3-pointers and Indiana shot 22 of 49 overall on 3s.
NUGGETS 115, CAVALIERS 109
CLEVELAND — Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists for his latest triple-double and Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 points, leading Denver past Cleveland.
Jokic’s 13th triple-double in 16 games and his NBA-leading 22nd this season helped the Nuggets come out of the All-Star break with an impressive road win over the Cavs, who dropped to 25-7 at home. Evan Mobley scored 31 points for Cleveland.
RAPTORS 115, PELICANS 110
TORONTO — Pascal Siakam scored 26 points, Jakob Poeltl had 21 points and a career-high 18 rebounds and Toronto beat New Orleans for itsr sixth victory in seven games.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 18 points, including a key 3-pointer in the final minute, Scottie Barnes also had 18 and O.G. Anunoby returned from injury with 12 points as the Raptors matched their season high by winning three straight.
Brandon Ingram scored 14 of his 36 points in the fourth for New Orleans.
MAGIC 108, PISTONS 106
ORLANDO, Fla. — Wendell Carter Jr. tipped in Paolo Banchero’s missed layup at the buzzer to lift Orlando past Detroit.
Franz Wagner added 21 points, and Carter controlled the boards in the fourth quarter, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Jaden Ivey led Detroit with 25 points. He hit a 3-pointer with nine seconds left to tie it.