By ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum had 32 points and 14 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the San Antonio Spurs, 116-103, on Wednesday night, Feb. 12, for their third straight victory and seventh in eight games.
Kristaps Porzingis added 29 points for Boston and Derrick White had 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break.
The Spurs cut a 19-point halftime deficit to 93-85 early in the fourth quarter. Boston outscored San Antonio 23-18 the rest of the way.
De’Aaron Fox had 23 points in his fifth game with the Spurs since being traded by Sacramento. Victor Wembanyama added 17 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
San Antonio has won three of its last eight.
They are just 2-3 in five games with Fox. But getting some practice time together should benefit this new-look group after not having any during a six-game trip.
After starting the new year 8-6, Boston has found a groove and heading into the break.
Meanwhile in Denver, Jamal Murray scored a career-high 55 points, Nikola Jokic had his 25th triple-double of the season and the Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 132-121, for their eighth straight victory.
Murray was 20 of 36 from the floor, including seven 3-pointers. It’s the third-most points in the franchise’s NBA history, trailing only David Thompson’s 73-point game on April 9, 1978, and Jokic’s 56-point effort Dec. 7. In the ABA, Spencer Haywood had a 59-point game for the then-Rockets on April 15, 1970.
Jokic had with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists on a night when the team celebrated Serbian Heritage Night and handed out his bobblehead.
Denver led by 23 points, only to see Portland cut it to single digits late in the second game between the teams in Denver in three nights. The Nuggets won 146-117 on Monday.
Anfernee Simons led Portland with 26 points, and Donovan Clingan had 17 points and 20 rebounds. The Trail Blazers were without Deandre Ayton (strained calf), Scoot Henderson (sprained ankle) and Jerami Grant (sore knee).
In Inglewood, Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points, James Harden and Norman Powell each had 18 and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 128-114.
Leonard played a season-high 34 minutes, with all of his 30-minute games coming in the last three contests.
Amir Coffey added 15 points, Kris Dunn had 14 and Ivica Zubac finished with 12 points with 13 rebounds. Harden also had 10 assists.
In Salt Lake City, Lauri Markkanen scored 32 points and had a season-high three steals to lead the Utah Jazz to a 131-119 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jordan Clarkson had 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to help Utah end a three-game slide. Keyonte George added 20 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds off the bench.
LeBron James finished with 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Los Angeles. Rui Hachimura scored a team-high 19 points and Luka Doncic added 16. Austin Reaves added 15 points and 11 assists.
In Dallas, Kyrie Irving scored 42 points and took a charge in the closing seconds, Klay Thompson added 17 against his former team, and the undersized Mavericks beat the Golden State Warriors, 111-107.
Naji Marshall hit a 6-foot floater in the lane to give Dallas a 109-107 lead with 25.6 seconds left after Steph Curry, the NBA’s leading free-throw shooter at 93.1%, missed the second of two to leave the score tied.
