Jaylen Brown puts up 32 points and Jayson Tatum contributed 27 as the Celtics continued their undefeated streak at home by beating the Rockets 145-113 on Saturday. This game also marked the return of former Celtics coach Ime Udoka to Boston.
The Celtics have now reached a record of 30-9 in the NBA, with a perfect 19-0 record at home, making them the only team in the league to remain undefeated at home. They have also extended their team-record winning streak at home to start a season. Jaylen Brown played a significant role in their victory against the Rockets, scoring 21 points in the third quarter as the Celtics pulled away. He made 11 out of 15 shots from the field, including 4 out of 6 from 3-point range, and contributed six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocked shots.
The Oklahoma City Thunder moved into a tie for first place in the Western Conference after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the third highest scorer in the NBA, scored 37 points to lead the Thunder to a 112-100 victory over Orlando. The Thunder’s winning streak extended to five games, and with a record of 27-11, they are now level with the Minnesota Timberwolves at the top of the Western Conference.
In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points, Damian Lillard contributed 27, and Khris Middleton scored 24 points and made 10 assists to help the Bucks defeat Golden State 129-118. Jonathan Kuminga scored 28 points as a substitute to lead the Warriors, who decided to rest their star guard Stephen Curry.
In a game against the Dallas Mavericks, rookie Jordan Hawkins had his best performance of the season, scoring 34 points and leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a 118-108 victory. Hawkins made 11 of 19 shots from the field, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range. The Mavericks, missing Luka Doncic due to an ankle injury, were led by Kyrie Irving’s 33 points.
Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic scored 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan contributed 20 points to help the Bulls secure a 122-116 victory over San Antonio. Tre Jones led the Spurs with 30 points, as they played without their rookie standout Victor Wembanyama, who is limited by an ankle injury.
The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 132-123, with Lauri Markkanen contributing 29 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Despite a triple-double performance from Anthony Davis with 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, the absence of LeBron James due to a left ankle injury hindered the Lakers. The Jazz capitalized on their fast-break opportunities, scoring 27 points compared to the Lakers’ 14, and also converted 12 Lakers turnovers into 23 points.
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