The Boston Celtics defeated the Mavericks 138-110 on Friday, extending their NBA winning streak to 10 games despite Luka Doncic’s 37-point triple-double, thanks to Jayson Tatum’s 32 points and 21 three-pointers.
Jayson Tatum struggled in the first quarter, missing all four of his shots, but he bounced back in the third quarter with 16 points as the Boston Celtics took control. Brown contributed 25 points, Porzingis added 24, and seven Boston Celtics players scored in double figures, overpowering the Mavericks. Doncic’s 12th triple-double of the season with 12 rebounds and 11 assists and Irving’s 19 points on 9 of 23 shooting was not enough to help the Mavericks avoid defeat.
The Golden State Warriors overcame a challenging travel situation to extend their road winning streak to eight games by defeating the Raptors 120-105 in Toronto. Stephen Curry contributed 25 points, while Jonathan Kuminga added 24 for the Warriors. The team faced a six-hour delay at the airport following their win against the New York Knicks. Klay Thompson, who returned to the starting lineup, scored 14 points in the second half. Toronto’s leading scorer was R.J. Barrett with 23 points, and All-Star Scottie Barnes had 10 points and six rebounds before exiting the game in the first half due to a left hand injury.
In another location, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the standout player for Milwaukee, scored 46 points and secured 16 rebounds to guide the Bucks to a 113-97 victory against the Bulls in Chicago. Antetokounmpo also contributed six assists and sank two three-pointers in an impressive display.
Sacramento’s Malik Monk came off the bench and scored 39 points to help the Kings secure a 124-120 overtime win against the top-ranked Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference. Despite the Timberwolves losing their top scorer Anthony Edwards at halftime for personal reasons, they managed to stay competitive in the second half. However, Monk’s three-pointers in overtime gave the Kings the lead, and Trey Lyles’ free throw sealed the victory for Sacramento.
In a game against the Pistons in Detroit, Cleveland’s guard Darius Garland made eight three-pointers, with six of them coming in a strong second quarter where he scored 18 points. This performance helped the Cavaliers, who were missing Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert due to injuries, secure a 110-100 victory. Garland led the game with 29 points, while Evan Mobley contributed 22 points and 17 rebounds for the Cavs.
In Philadelphia, Tobias Harris scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Tyrese Maxey contributed 33 points to lead the 76ers to a 121-114 win against the Charlotte Hornets. This victory was crucial for the 76ers as they aim to secure a playoff spot, especially with the anticipation of Joel Embiid’s return following his knee surgery in February.
