Tatum, Porzingis help Celtics rout Heat 143-110 in East finals rematch

NEW YORK (AP) — OG Anunoby scored 26 points, Jalen Brunson added 21 and the New York Knicks handed the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets their worst loss of the season, 122-84 on Thursday night.

Quentin Grimes had 19 points, Julius Randle 17 and Donte DiVincenzo 16 for the Knicks. They have won five straight and 11 of 13 since Anunoby was acquired from Toronto.

Nikola Jokic had 31 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, whose three-game winning streak ended. Denver went 3-2 on a five-game trip that began with a loss at Philadelphia.

The Nuggets’ previous biggest loss was a 119-93 home defeat to Oklahoma City on Dec. 29.

CELTICS 142, HEAT 110

MIAMI (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 26 points, Kristaps Porzingis had 19 before spraining his left ankle and Boston made 22 3-pointers on the way to routing Miami.

Jaylen Brown scored 18 points, Jrue Holiday had 17 and Derrick White 15 for the NBA-leading Celtics. They improved to 35-10 and are 2-0 this season against the team that beat them in last season’s Eastern Conference finals.

The 143 points were the most Boston ever scored against Miami, and the 33-point margin represented Boston’s most-lopsided win over Miami in 172 meetings between the franchises, including playoffs.

The Celtics’ previous scoring best against the Heat was a 139-118 win on April 12, 1990. Boston shot 64% on Thursday and outrebounded Miami 47-31.

Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro each scored 19 points for Miami. The Heat have lost five straight, their longest slide since dropping six in a row in March 2021.

PACERS 134, 76ERS 122

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana newcomer Pascal Siakam had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his first triple-double since November 2022, leading the Pacers past Philadelphia.

Joel Embiid had 31 points and seven rebounds just three days after breaking the 76ers’ franchise record with 70 points. Philadelphia had won six in a row.

Embiid, the NBA’s reigning MVP, was one of the starters announced Thursday for All-Star Game on Feb. 18 Indianapolis for the first time since 1985.

The Pacers snapped a three-game losing streak and gave Siakam his first win since joining the team last week in trade with Toronto.

JAZZ 123, WIZARDS 108

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points and Utah beat Washington, spoiling Brian Keefe’s debut as interim coach after Wes Unseld Jr. was moved to the Wizards’ front office.

The Wizards announced earlier in the day that Unseld was out as coach midway through his third season with the team. Washington dropped to 7-37. It has lost six in a row and 12 of 13.

John Collins added 22 points and 16 rebounds to help Utah snap a three-game losing streak. Kyle Kuzma led Washington with 26 points.

TIMBERWOLVES 96, NETS 94

NEW YORK (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 27 points, Anthony Edwards added 24 and Minnesota held off Brooklyn.

Minnesota led by 17 points in the third quarter and was still ahead still ahead by 10, midway through the fourth quarter.

Cam Thomas led the Brooklyn with 25 points and Bridges had 21. The Nets have lost three straight, seven of eight and 12 of their last 14.

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