Boston Celtics defeat LA Lakers for 10th straight win

 

 (The Sports Xchange) – Highlights from National Basketball Association games on Wednesday:

Celtics 107, Lakers 96

Aron Baynes matched his career high with 21 points and the Boston Celtics won their 10th straight game, holding off the Los Angeles Lakers 107-96 on Wednesday night.

The Celtics played the entire game without Al Horford (concussion) and the second half without rookie Jayson Tatum (ankle) and built a 21-point lead before the Lakers battled back. Los Angeles got as close as two with 5:43 left in the third quarter, but Boston grew the lead back to double digits.

Kyrie Irving overcame a poor shooting night with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Celtics. Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson had 18 points apiece and Julius Randle added 16 points and 12 rebounds for Boston.

 Relying on its depth with All-Star forward Kevin Durant unavailable, Golden State put away Minnesota.

Minnesota entered with five consecutive wins, but the streak ended with Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson orchestrating a 44-26 third-quarter blitz.

Golden State won its fifth consecutive game. Thompson finished with 28 points, and Curry contributed 22 points and eight assists. Anthony Wiggins scored 17 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

Magic 112, Knicks 99

Nikola Vucevic scored 24 points and Evan Fournier had 23 to help Orlando halt a two-game losing streak with a win over New York.

The Knicks were without star forward Kristaps Porzingis, who is averaging 30 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while shooting 51 percent from the field. Tim Hardaway Jr. led New York with a game-high 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Pistons 114, Pacers 97

Tobias Harris had 23 points and eight rebounds, and Detroit won for the sixth time in seven games, downing Indiana.

Reggie Jackson supplied 18 points, Avery Bradley had 14, and Andre Drummond contributed 14 points and 21 rebounds for the Pistons.

Victor Oladipo pumped in 21 points and Al Jefferson scored a season-high 19 points for the Pacers, who have lost four straight.

Heat 126, Suns 115

Goran Dragic had 29 points and nine rebounds, and Dion Waiters scored five of his 16 points in the final 2:02 to give Miami the win.