NBA: Jaylen Brown scores 44 points as Boston Celtics dominate the Indiana Pacers
Jaylen Brown scored 44 points to lead the NBA champion Boston Celtics to a 142-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers in response to a losing streak.
Jayson Tatum added 22 points and Payton Pritchard added 18 as Boston posted its highest score of the season.
The win puts the Celtics within a tie with the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland beat the Denver Nuggets 149-135 in eight games on Friday, improving their league-best record to 27 wins in 31 games, four more than the Celtics.
Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points and six Cavs players scored in double figures for the team’s sixth straight win, although NBA MVP Nikola Jokic scored for the Denver Nuggets A triple-double with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists.
In addition, Anthony Edwards hit a three-pointer with 23.2 seconds left in the game. The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the host Houston Rockets 113-112. With less than 5 minutes left in the game, the Rockets led by 16 points.
Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and the New York Knicks extended their winning streak to six games with a 108-85 victory over the Magic in Orlando; Victor Vembanyama had 19 points and seven rebounds. Helped the San Antonio Spurs defeat the Brooklyn Nets 96-87 in Brooklyn.
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors, who were without Stephen Curry with an injury, 102-92.
Kyrie Irving scored 20 points to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Phoenix Suns 98-89, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the New Orleans Pelicans 132-124 for their eighth win in 10 games.
