By Adrian Stewart Co
Boston Celtics leaned on Jaylen Brown’s torrid outside shooting to snap its losing run with a 112-96 beating of Orlando Magic in the 2020-2021 NBA Season on Sunday (Monday in the Philippines) at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Brown converted career-best 10 triples as he finished with 34 points while Jayson Tatum added 23 markers as the Celtics halted its three-game losing streak to improve to 21-21 slate.
Kemba Walker contributed 14 points, Daniel Theis had double-double 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Marcus Smart ended with 11 for the Celtics, which made 23 3-pointers in the game, one short of the franchise record.
Fresh from its upset win over Brooklyn Nets, Magic were leading by five in the opening frame and 40-37 midway in the second before Brown made a pair of 3-pointers to spark Celtics’ 11-2 run.
Celtics were on top 56-49 early in the third period before they unloaded 10 straight points to start a 19-5 run that made it a 21-point lead and never looked back.
Nikola Vucevic had double-double 22 points and 13 rebounds while James Ennis III and Evan Fournier added 18 and 16 markers, respectively, as the Magic slumped to 14-28.
Meanwhile, Justin Holiday heats up in overtime period as Indiana Pacers (19-22) cruised to a 109-106 victory over the Miami Heat (22-21).
Down 98-103, Holiday connected back-to-back triples to give Indiana a 104-103 edge. Another triple by Malcolm Brogdon and free throws by Caris LeVert sealed the win for the Pacers.
Holiday finished the match with 15 points as Domantas Sabonis led the way with double-double 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Myles Turner added 16 for Indiana.
In other results, New Orleans Pelicans (18-24) stunned Denver Nuggets (25-17), 113-108; while Oklahoma City Thunder (18-24) escaped Houston Rockets (11-30), 114-112.
BOX SCORE:
BOSTON 112 – Brown 34, Tatum 23, Walker 14, Theis 13, Smart 11, Pritchard 5, R. Williams 4, Ojeleye 3, Nesmith 3, Fall 2, G. Williams 0.
ORLANDO 96 – Vucevic 22, Ennis 18, Fournier 16, Gordon 12, Carter-Williams 7, Aminu 5, Bacon 5, Okeke 5, Birch 4, Randle 2, Clark 0, Mane 0.
Quarterscores: 27-31, 56-48, 89-73, 112-96./ASC, WDJ