The Boston Celtics returned to winning ways with a commanding 108-89 victory over the Miami Heat at TD Garden on Monday. Shooting guard Jaylen Brown, back in action after missing Sunday’s loss to Cleveland due to illness, paced the team with 29 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. The win improved Boston’s record to 17-4, keeping them firmly in second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Cavaliers.
That was too much potent offense for a depleted Miami roster to handle. Payton Pritchard was excellent off the bench, making five of 12 three-point attempts to finish with 25 points. Fellow Sunday returnee Derrick White chipped in with 19 of his own, including five triples of his own, and Jayson Tatum scored 18 points.
The dominance from beyond the arc was pivotal, as the Celtics made 19-of-55 three-point attempts while Miami struggled to make only 8-of-35. Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 19 points apiece in a losing effort as Miami sustained its sixth loss of the season.
Timberwolves Outclass Lakers in Minneapolis
At Minneapolis, the Timberwolves destroyed the Los Angeles Lakers 109-80. The Minnesota defense held the Lakers to only 32-of-79 field goal shooting and six three-pointers out of 31 attempts.
Julius Randle led Minnesota with 18 points, while Rudy Gobert posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. For the Lakers, D’Angelo Russell led with 20 points, but Anthony Davis and LeBron James combined for only 22, with James shooting an appalling 4-of-16.
Hawks Extend Winning Streak Over Pelicans
In Atlanta, the Hawks won their fourth in a row, topping the New Orleans Pelicans 124-112. De’Andre Hunter led the way with 22 points, while Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels scored 19 each. The Pelicans stayed at the bottom of the Western Conference after their ninth loss in a row.
Bulls Trash Nets with Giddey’s Triple-Double
Nikola Vucevic scored 21 in Chicago, while Australian star Josh Giddey posted a triple-double of 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists to lead the Bulls to a 128-102 rout of the Brooklyn Nets.
