JAYSON Tatum scored 26 of his game-high 38 points in the second half to help the Boston Celtics defeat the visiting Detroit Pistons 127-109 Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila).
An illness prevented Tatum from playing in Tuesday night’s 131-125 overtime loss at Milwaukee. He was 15 of 24 from the field against Detroit, including 6 of 10 from behind the arc. Tatum had 24 points, including six 3-pointers, in the third quarter– the most points he’s scored in one quarter during his NBA career.
Bojan Bogdanovic led the Pistons with 28 points. Jaden Ivey added 17 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Detroit was within six points early in the fourth quarter, but it was all Boston after that. The Pistons never had a lead in the game.
In other games, it was the Nuggets 118, Mavs 109; Knicks 122, Hawks 101; Lakers 120, Pelicans 102; Pacers 117, Bulls 113; Hornets 120, Spurs 110; Sixers 118, Cavs 112; Thunder 133, Rockets 96; Grizzlies 117, Jazz 111; and Nets 116, Heat 105.
Nuggets 118, Mavs 109
Nikola Jokic had 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his NBA-leading 21st triple-double, Jeff Green scored a season-high 24 points, and host Denver beat Dallas.
Michael Porter Jr. finished with 22 points, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 14, Vlatko Cancar added 12 and Bruce Brown 10 for the Nuggets.
Luka Doncic scored 37 points, Christian Wood netted 17, McKinley Wright IV finished with 11 and A.J. Lawson had 10 for Dallas, which played without Kyrie Irving, who was out with lower back tightness. Tim Hardaway Jr. missed his second straight game with right hamstring tightness.
