Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics have posted a thrashing of division rivals Brooklyn to strengthen their place on prime of the NBA’s Eastern Conference standings.
The Celtics led 46-16 after the primary interval at TD Garden on Thursday (AEDT), with Tatum contributing 18 factors to outscore the guests on his personal.
It tied Boston’s finest factors differential for any quarter within the shot-clock period, which started in 1954.
The Celtics’ maintained a lead of 30-plus factors all through the whole second half and reached a game-high margin of 49 within the complete 139-96 win.
Tatum, who completed with 31 factors, was effectively supported by Jaylen Brown (26) and Robert Williams III (16).
Tatum and Brown contributed 25-plus factors every in the identical sport for the twenty seventh time this season – essentially the most by any pair previous to the All-Star break in NBA historical past.
Melbourne-born guard Kyrie Irving top-scored for the Nets with 20 factors towards his former staff, whereas Patty Mills had 4 factors, two assists and a steal in nearly 18 minutes on court docket.
The Celtics’ large win got here after they break up a pair of time beyond regulation video games and improved their file to 37-15, whereas leaving Brooklyn at 31-20.
“After the last couple of games we had going into overtime … a couple of days off did us well,” Tatum advised ESPN.
“We were just refreshed and were locked in and just ready to go from the start.
“Obviously we knocked down pictures however we had nice intentions all through the entire sport.”
Damian Lillard grabbed his own slice of NBA history when he posted 42 points and 10 assists in Portland’s 122-112 win over Memphis.
It was Lillard’s 15th career game with at least 40 points and 10 assists – the fifth-most of all-time.
Ja Morant had 32 points and 12 assists for the Grizzlies.
The NBA postponed Detroit’s home game against Washington because the Pistons have been unable to fly home from Dallas, where severe weather conditions have grounded flights.
A date for the rescheduled sport has not but been confirmed.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
