Kevin Garnett had 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Celtics, who have won 10 of 13 and 20 of 28 to take over first place in the Atlantic Division.
Rajon Rondo added 15 assists, Brandon Bass had 18 points and Paul Pierce 17 for Boston, which limited the Nets to 34 second-half points in beating them for the third time in three games this season.
Gerald Green had 15 points to lead the Nets, while the rookie Jordan Williams had 12 points and a career-best 14 rebounds in recording his first double-double. Deron Williams had 12 points and 14 assists for the Nets, who had won six of their last nine in their best run of the season. MarShon Brooks added 13 points.
The Celtics outscored the Nets by 26-13 in the third quarter. Bradley was the catalyst in a late 13-4 surge in which he hit three straight 3-pointers from the right corner, near the Nets' bench.
The Boston veteran Ray Allen missed his third straight game with soreness and swelling in his right ankle. Coach Doc Rivers said Allen would not play in Charlotte on Sunday.
THUNDER 115, T'WOLVES 110 Kevin Durant scored 43 points and Russell Westbrook had 35 points and 8 assists as Oklahoma City defeated host Minnesota.
Durant scored 16 in the final seven minutes for the Thunder (44-16), who started the day one game ahead of the San Antonio Spurs — but tied in the loss column — for the top seed in the West.
Anthony Randolph had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Michael Beasley scored 26 for the Timberwolves, who lost their ninth straight game and 25th in a row in April dating to 2009.
The Wolves played without the All-Star Kevin Love, who missed his second straight game with a concussion.
CLIPPERS 112, WARRIORS 104 Chris Paul had 28 points and 13 assists as Los Angeles beat visiting Golden State to close to a game behind the idle Lakers for the Pacific Division lead.
Blake Griffin scored 20 points, DeAndre Jordan 18 and Mo Williams 14 in the Clippers' third straight win and the 11th in their last 13 games. They are chasing the Lakers for the third playoff seed in the Western Conference with six games remaining.
"It's all about locking up a playoff spot; you got to get in," Paul said. "Anything can happen when you get to the playoffs. The sky's the limit. When we play the way we're capable of playing, we've already beaten some of the best teams in the league."
The reserve Nate Robinson led the injury-riddled Warriors with 28 points, including four 3-pointers. Klay Thompson scored 24, Dorell Wright 23 and Brandon Rush 22 for Golden State, which lost its third straight game. David Lee, Richard Jefferson, Andrew Bogut and Stephen Curry of the Warriors sat out with injuries.
GRIZZLIES 103, JAZZ 98 Rudy Gay had 26 points and O. J. Mayo added 20 to lift host Memphis past Utah.
CAVALIERS 98, WIZARDS 89 Fresh off a stint in the N.B.A. Development League, Luke Harangody had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead Cleveland to victory in Washington.
Anthony Parker scored 15 points and Tristan Thompson 14 for the Cavaliers in a matchup of teams that had combined to lose 23 of their last 28 games.
John Wall scored 19 points to lead the Wizards one night after he missed 10 of 12 shots in a 103-65 loss to the Knicks.
BRYANT LIKELY TO SIT OUT Kobe Bryant probably will miss his fifth straight game when the Lakers host Dallas on Sunday. Coach Mike Brown said that Bryant, the N.B.A. scoring leader, is likely to rest his bruised left shin.
No comments:
Post a Comment