NBA Recap: Jayson Tatum shines with a spectacular 41-point display, leading the Boston Celtics to victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
The Boston star also grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out five assists to contribute to the Celtics’ fifth consecutive victory, bringing their season record to 42-12.
Jaylen Brown scored 19 points, while Al Horford and Derrick White each added 16 points.
Boston now holds a six-game lead at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Tatum dominated with 31 points in the first half, and the Celtics held a lead of up to 23 points in the third quarter before the Brooklyn Nets made a late comeback.
In another game, a short-handed Miami Heat team convincingly defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 123-97 in Wisconsin. Despite missing Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, and Josh Richardson, Miami shot exceptionally well from three-point range, making 19 out of 40 attempts.
Nicola Jovic led the scoring with 24 points, and Duncan Robinson contributed 23 points with six three-pointers.
The Bucks remain in third place in the East, while the Heat sit seventh, just half a game outside the playoff positions.
Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred as the Oklahoma City Thunder secured a comfortable 127-113 win over the Orlando Magic. Despite Orlando taking an early 11-point lead, the Thunder rallied behind Williams’ 33 points and Gilgeous-Alexander’s 32 points to secure the victory.
The Minnesota Timberwolves maintain their position at the top of the Western Conference, with Anthony Edwards’ 41 points leading them to a 121-109 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Kevin Durant scored 28 points to help the Phoenix Suns win a thrilling 130-125 game against the Sacramento Kings. Despite a 40-point performance from De’Aaron Fox and a 35-point triple-double from Domantas Sabonis, the Kings couldn’t secure the win.
In other action, the Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 125-111 victory over the struggling Detroit Pistons, with LeBron James leading the way with 25 points.
