KRISTAPS Porzingis scored 34 points and tied a career high with eight 3-pointers as the visiting Boston Celtics beat the New York Knicks 119-117 in overtime Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
With their ninth straight win on the road, the Celtics secured their first four-game regular-season sweep of the Knicks since the 2019-20 season. By virtue of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ win over the Chicago Bulls, Boston (59-20) is locked in as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. New York (50-29) needs one more win or a loss by the Indiana Pacers to lock up the No. 3 seed.
Porzingis, the former Knick, had the biggest shot of the night, making a 3-pointer with 40.8 seconds left in overtime to break a 112-112 tie. The Knicks turned the ball over on their next possession and Jrue Holiday made four free throws in the final 12.6 seconds to clinch it for Boston.
Jayson Tatum scored 32 points for the Celtics. Jrue Holliday scored 16 points and Derrick White chipped in 14. For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 34 points, Jalen Brunson added 27 and Josh Hart finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out.
In other games, it was the Thunder 136, Lakers 120; Bucks 110, Wolves 103; Warriors 133, Suns 95; Clippers 122, Spurs 117; Magic 119, Hawks 112; Nets 119, Pelicans 114; Grizzlies 124, Hornets 100; and Pacers 104, Wizards 98.
Thunder 136, Lakers 120
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points to lead Oklahoma City past Los Angeles as the Thunder avenged a loss to the Lakers two days earlier.
The Thunder snapped a two-game losing streak and set a franchise record for victories in a season. The previous record was set in 1995-96 when the franchise was in Seattle.
Lakers star Luka Doncic was ejected little more than four minutes into the fourth quarter when he picked up his second technical foul of the game. After his ejection, the Thunder went on a 13-4 run to take control.
Bucks 110, Wolves 103
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and Milwaukee stormed back from a 24-point deficit in the fourth quarter to post a win over visiting Minnesota.
Kevin Porter Jr. added 21 points off the bench for Milwaukee, which won its fifth game in a row. Bobby Portis scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in his return from a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. The Bucks outscored the Timberwolves 40-13 in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a 23-0 run.
Anthony Edwards scored 25 points on 10-for-27 shooting to lead Minnesota. Donte DiVincenzo scored 24 points off the bench and Naz Reid chipped in 17 off the bench for the Timberwolves, whose five-game winning streak ended.
