Jayson Tatum scored 31 factors because the Boston Celtics put the depleted Brooklyn Nets firmly of their place with a brutal 139-96 mauling on Wednesday.
The heavyweight conflict between the 2 Japanese Convention rivals ended with the Nets reeling on the ropes because the Celtics laid down a marker with an emphatic wire-to-wire victory on the TD Backyard.
Boston dominated from the outset, working up a outstanding 46 factors within the first quarter alone, with Tatum contributing 18 factors.
By half-time, the Celtics had raced right into a 34-point lead towards a Brooklyn aspect nonetheless lacking the injured Kevin Durant.
Tatum’s 31-point haul included seven three-pointers from 12-of-19 capturing whereas Jaylen Brown offered scoring help with 26 factors.
Six Boston gamers completed in double figures after a lopsided rout.
Kyrie Irving led the Brooklyn scoring with 20 factors.
“A few days off did us good, we felt refreshed,” Boston star Tatum stated afterwards. “We’ve got depth and a next-man-up mentality.”
Tatum reserved particular reward for Robert Williams III, who completed with 16 factors and 9 rebounds.
“On any given evening, Rob may be an important man to our long-term success,” Tatum stated.
“To get to the place we wish to get to, we’d like Rob on the ground and we’d like him wholesome.”
Sixers bounce again
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers bounced again from their upset loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday with a complete 105-94 defeat of the Florida membership.
The Sixers had been on a roll heading into Monday’s sport with seven straight wins, however one way or the other squandered a 21-point benefit to crash 119-109.
A scheduling quirk meant the Sixers didn’t have to attend lengthy to avenge that loss, and Philadelphia duly seized the chance on Wednesday.
A reinvigorated Sixers aspect turned the tables with a convincing victory thanks to twenty-eight factors from Joel Embiid and 26 factors from James Harden.
Harden narrowly missed out on a triple double, ending with 9 rebounds and 10 assists, with a factors tally that included six three-pointers.
Markelle Fultz topped the Magic scoring with 18 factors.
In Memphis, the prolific Damian Lillard poured in 42 factors for a second straight sport because the Portland Path Blazers downed the Grizzlies 122-112.
Lillard, who additionally had 10 assists and eight rebounds, is now tied with Shaquille O’Neal in nineteenth place on the rankings of gamers with probably the most 40-point video games in NBA historical past.
Lillard, who additionally scored 42 factors in a win over Atlanta on Monday, now has 49 40-point video games.
The Blazers talisman chipped in with 9 factors within the ultimate quarter whereas Anfernee Simons dropped in 14 as Portland outscored Memphis 38-22 within the fourth to assert victory.
Ja Morant completed with 32 factors for Memphis, who at one stage led by 12 factors earlier than Portland clawed their manner again into the competition.
“We have been down, and so they’re a terrific workforce, however we’re a workforce that’s handled lots this season and we really feel like we felt the underside,” Lillard stated.
“And the one factor we do have is our togetherness. We’ve realized to struggle our manner out of issues and I feel we’ve realized to struggle out of a tricky place.
“We have been put able with our again towards the wall tonight and we responded the best way actual related groups do.”
Lillard led Portland’s scoring whereas Simons completed with 26 factors and Jerami Grant 18.
Portland improved to 25-26 with the win, placing them simply exterior the play-in positions in eleventh place within the Western Convention.
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