Jayson Tatum scored 35 points, Marcus Smart added 22 units and a career-high 15 assists as the Boston Celtics took a 27-point lead in the first quarter to beat the Charlotte Hornets 140-105 last night.
It was their ninth straight home win and the 13th in 14 games for the reigning Eastern Conference champions and the best record in the NBA.
Malcolm Brogdon had 21 points, six assists and five rebounds, while Derrick White had 15 points and six assists. Blake Griffin had a season-high nine points for Boston.
Jalen McDaniels scored 24 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 22 for the Hornets, who have lost 12 of 15 games.
the celtics they secured the victory in the first period. They were up 19-12 when Boston made 24 of the next 28 points on six straight 3-pointers. Tatum had 16 points in the quarter, Smart 10 points and eight assists, and Brogdon 10. Boston made 73% of their field goals, including 10 of 15 3-pointers. Charlotte missed all of her three-point attempts in the period.
Washington edged out Minnesota
Kristaps Porzingis had a career-high 41 points, including 29 in the first half, as the Washington Wizards beat Minnesota 142-127 after Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns injured his right leg and had to be Helped out in the third period.
Towns caught his leg as he fell near midcourt and came out without grounding it. The team announced that he suffered a right calf strain.
Porzingis made all six of his 3-point attempts in the first half. Washington hit 57% of his field goals. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 29 points. Porzingis hit his first four shots, all 3s, as Washington led 21-6 early in the game.
