NEW ORLEANS — Isaiah Thomas scored 22 points, Kelly Olynyk added 21 in a reserve role, and the Boston Celtics defeated the struggling New Orleans Pelicans 111-93 on Monday night.
Jae Crowder scored 17 for Boston, while Jared Sullinger tied a career high with 20 rebounds to go with 11 points.
Seemingly out of rhythm after early foul trouble, Anthony Davis was 8-of-21 shooting and finished with 16 points and three blocks. Ryan Anderson scored 18 for the Pelicans, but New Orleans’ starting backcourt struggled. Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon were held scoreless and wound up playing limited minutes. Reserve guard Jrue Holiday had 14 points for the Pelicans.
Avery Bradley, who started despite missing a morning shootaround with an illness, scored 11 points for the Celtics. They hit 12 3-pointers, with Thomas making all four he attempted and Bradley going 3 of 5.
New Orleans led for much of the first half, but the Celtics went on a 13-2 run to close the second quarter, with Thomas hitting two 3s and a 13-foot jumper during the surge, which put Boston up 53-44 at halftime.
The Celtics widened their lead in the third quarter, hitting four of the first six 3s they attempted in the period. Bradley made one as he was fouled by Gordon for a four-point play that gave Boston a 59-49 lead. Amir Johnson’s short hook made it 75-55 with less than 5 minutes to go in the period.
New Orleans was able to whittle is deficit down to 10 on Dante Cunningham’s driving finger roll with 11:07 to go, but Boston responded with a 12-4 run during which Crowder hit a 3 from 27 feet and Olynyk was fouled on a 3, making all three free throws. The Pelicans never threatened again, falling behind by as many as 22.
Suns 103, Bulls 101
CHICAGO — Mirza Teletovic scored 21 points, including a follow basket with 0.3 seconds left, to cap the Phoenix Suns’ furious fourth-quarter rally in a 103-101 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
Brandon Knight had 17 of his 21 points in the fourth as the Suns came back from 16 down after three quarters to snap a four-game skid. Phoenix outscored Chicago 42-24 in the final period.
Pau Gasol scored 22 points to lead the Bulls, Jimmy Butler added 19 and Derrick Rose 14.
Chicago led most of the way and its advantage grew to 77-61 entering the fourth quarter as Phoenix was held to 10 points on 4 of 20 shooting in the third.
The Suns’ offense, though, came to life at the start of the final quarter.
Raptors 102, Lakers 93
TORONTO — Kyle Lowry had 27 points, Terrence Ross added 22 and Bismack Biyombo posted a career-high 15 points and 13 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors snapped a three-game skid with a 102-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
In what was almost certainly his last NBA appearance in Canada, Kobe Bryant shot 8 of 16 for 21 points as the Raptors swept the season series from the Lakers for the first time.
Bryant’s every touch drew chants almost throughout, and his only successful 3-pointer was met with thunderous applause in the fourth quarter as the Lakers attempted to mount a rally.
Bryant exited for the final time with 24.6 seconds remaining to a standing ovation.
Spurs 119, 76ers 68
PHILADELPHIA — With new front office executive Jerry Colangelo sitting courtside, the Philadelphia 76ers showed him just how far away they are from becoming a competitive franchise.
Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard all sat out and the San Antonio Spurs still rolled past the Sixers, 119-68 on Monday night.
LeMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs with 26 points and nine rebounds and Tony Parker scored 12 points.
Coach Gregg Popovich rested Duncan and Ginoboli against the hapless Sixers and Leonard was ill.
Wizards 114, Heat 103
MIAMI — John Wall scored 26 points one night after leaving a game with a sore knee, Gary Neal added 21 including a debated 3-pointer with just over a minute left and the Washington
Wizards beat the Miami Heat 114-103 on Monday night. Bradley Beal scored 21 and Otto Porter finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds for Washington, which never trailed in the fourth.
The Heat argued that Beal traveled when he lost control of the ball and regained it under the basket with 1:10 remaining. Beal sent it to Neal for a 3 from the right corner that put Washington up five and essentially served as the clincher.
Miami’s Chris Bosh was ejected for arguing calls and non-calls with 28 seconds remaining, the second ejection of his 13-year career.
Dwyane Wade led Miami with 26 points. Goran Dragic added 20 and Bosh scored 18 for the Heat, who fell from the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference.
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