JAYSON Tatum scored 29 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:11 remaining for an eight-point cushion, as the short-handed Boston Celtics defeated the host Philadelphia Sixers 117-107 on Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila).
Derrick White added 27 points and Jrue Holiday contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who have won four games in a row.
The Celtics played without Jaylen Brown (non-COVID illness) and Kristaps Porzingis (knee).
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 20 points apiece while Robert Covington, De’Anthony Melton and Tobias Harris each netted 16. The Sixers have dropped two games in a row after an eight-game winning streak.
In other games, it was the Suns 133, Wolves 115; Mavs 130, Wizards 117; Bucks 128, Raptors 112; Kings 125, Lakers 110; Knicks 116, Hawks 114; Magic 96, Bulls 94; and Cavs 109, Blazers 95.
Suns 133, Wolves 115
Devin Booker and Kevin Durant scored 31 points apiece as Phoenix ended visiting Minnesota’s seven-game winning streak.
Booker was back in action after missing the previous five games due to a right calf strain.
Eric Gordon had 15 points, Grayson Allen scored 14, Drew Eubanks added 13 and Josh Okogie chipped in 12 for Phoenix, which led by as many as 28 in the third quarter. The Suns shot 60 percent from the field, including 17-for-31 (54.8 percent) from 3-point range.
Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 25 points. Mike Conley scored 14 points, while Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid each scored 13. Rudy Gobert recorded a game-high eight rebounds for the Wolves, whose seven-game win streak was their longest since 2004.
Mavs 130, Wizards 117
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 31 points off the bench while Luka Doncic added 26 points and 10 assists to help visiting Dallas breeze to a victory over Washington.
Hardaway scored 22 points over the first two quarters, accounting for his highest-scoring half of the season. He finished the game, making 11 of 20 shots from the floor and 7 of 11 from 3-point range.
Doncic converted four times from beyond the arc and added seven rebounds as the Mavericks coasted to victory despite playing without star guard Kyrie Irving.
