BOSTON — Jayson Tatum had 27 points and eight rebounds before being ejected on back-to-back technical fouls and the Boston Celtics remained unbeaten at home with a 145-113 victory over former coach Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets on Saturday night (Sunday morning, Jan. 14, 2024, PH time).
Jaylen Brown scored 32 points and the Celtics improved to 19-0 in the TD Garden – the first time in the history of the much-decorated franchise that it has opened a season with more than 17 wins in a row.
Cam Whitmore scored 22 points and Alperen Sengun had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Houston. The Rockets have lost three of their last four to drop their record to 19-19. They won just 22 games all last season.
Tatum was tossed for the second time in six weeks, picking up his first technical for complaining about a non-call with 10:17 left in the fourth quarter and Boston leading 117-90. He continued to complain while Aaron Holiday took the foul shot and picked up a second T, then walked over to referee CJ Washington and leaned in to shout something before walking off the court.
Thunder 112, Magic 100
In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points and Oklahoma City beat short-handed Orlando to tie Minnesota for the Western Conference lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander had his high points total without making a 3-pointer. He missed all four of his 3-point tries, but was 13 of 16 inside the arc and made 11 of 12 free throws.
Jalen Williams scored 16 points and Chet Holmgren added 15 to help the Thunder improve to 27-11. Paolo Banchero had 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Magic. They have lost three straight.
Jazz 133, Lakers 123
Lauri Markkanen had 29 points, nine rebounds and five assists to lead Utah past Los Angeles for its fifth straight victory and eighth in a row at home in Salt Lake City.
Collin Sexton scored 27 points and Jordan Clarkson added 21.
With LeBron James out with a left ankle injury, D’Angelo Russell led the Lakers with 39 points and eight assists. Anthony Davis had a triple-double with 15 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, but shot 5 of 21 from the field.
Bucks 129, Warriors 118
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points and Milwaukee used a big fourth quarter to pull away against short-handed Golden State.
The Warriors rested Stephen Curry in the second night of a road back-to-back and are still without Draymond Green. Coach Steve Kerr said he could return from his suspension Monday in Memphis or Wednesday at Utah.
Damian Lillard added 27 points for the Bucks. Jonathan Kuminga led the Warriors with 28.
Knicks 106, Grizzlies 94
Julius Randle had 24 points and 11 rebounds, OG Anunoby scored 18 points and New York beat makeshift Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee.
Miles McBride, starting in place of the injured Jalen Brunson, added a career-high 19 points, along with six assists for the Knicks. They have won six of seven.
GG Jackson led the Grizzlies with 20 points and six rebounds. Over the last week, leading scorer Ja Morant had season-ending shoulder surgery, and Marcus Smart’s injury to his right ring finger will keep him out at least six weeks. Then, Friday night in a loss to the Clippers, Desmond Bane, the team’s second-leading scorer, sprained an ankle and was on crutches Saturday.
Wizards 127, Hawks 99
Kyle Kuzma scored 29 points and Washington took advantage of Atlanta’s worst offensive night this season to rout the Hawks.
Jordan Poole added 20 points to help the Wizards snap a six-game losing streak and improve to 4-18 on the road. It was their largest
victory of the season.
Atlanta shot a season-low 34 percent. Trae Young had 21 points on 6-of-19 shooting.
Bulls 122, Spurs 116
In San Antonio, Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 16 rebounds and Chicago overcame a career-high 30 points from Tre Jones to past San Antonio with Spurs rookie star Victor Wembanyama sitting out.
Wembanyama did not play the second game of a back-to-back. The Spurs continue to proceed cautiously with the No. 1 pick following a sprained ankle last month.
Keldon Johnson had 26 points for San Antonio.
Pelicans 118, Mavericks 108
Rookie Jordan Hawkins scored a season-high 34 points and New Orleans beat Dallas in a game in which most of both teams’ regular starters weren’t in uniform.
Herb Jones scored 15 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points and a 12 rebounds for the Pelicans, who split a back-to-back after losing at Denver 125-113 on Friday night. Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 33 points.