DERRICK White had 23 points and 10 assists to lead the NBA-leading Boston Celtics to a 119-109 win over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday afternoon (Monday in Manila).
Sam Hauser (20 points) tied a career-high with six 3-pointers as Boston finished 21 of 51 from downtown en route to its fourth straight win.
Jayson Tatum and Al Horford each added 16 points. Tatum did not record a field goal in the second half but did add two steals and two blocks.
Robert Williams had a 10-point, 16-rebound double-double.
Eight Celtics finished with at least 10 points.
After Memphis erased Boston’s 13-point halftime lead, the Celtics separated in the fourth quarter. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard hit triples early in the frame, but it was White’s 3-point play and a Hauser 3-pointer that highlighted a 9-2 run by the 8:32 mark.
Boston led 107-97 after Horford stuck the team’s 20th 3-pointer with 3:41 left. Horford beat the timer with another triple, extending the lead to 112-100 and clinching the game with 1:27 to go.Ja Morant led Memphis with 25 points and added seven steals and six rebounds. Desmond Bane scored 18.
Tatum and Hauser’s 3-pointers fueled an 8-2 run that gave the Celtics their first lead.
In the other game, Fred VanVleet scored 16 of his 35 points in the first quarter and the Toronto Raptors held on to defeat the visiting Detroit Pistons 119-118.
Pascal Siakam added 28 points for the Raptors, who have started their five-game homestand 2-1. Scottie Barnes contributed 20 points for Toronto and Precious Achiuwa had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 33 points for the Pistons. Alec Burks added 21 points, Hamidou Diallo, and Jaden Ivey each scored 18 points and Isaiah Stewart had 16 points.
After the Raptors led by 14 early in the fourth quarter, Detroit trimmed the deficit to nine with 3:04 left. VanVleet answered with a 13-footer. Bogdanovic made a 3-pointer to cut the lead to six with 1:08 to play, and Ivey’s 3-pointer trimmed the margin to 116-113 with 10.1 seconds remaining.
After the Raptors put it out of reach with free throws, Ivey hit another 3-pointer at the final buzzer.
Detroit’s Jalen Duren injured his ankle during the second quarter and returned in the third quarter. He finished with six points.
The Raptors were without coach Nick Nurse (personal reasons) and were led by assistant coach Adrian Griffin. Gary Trent Jr. (calf) and O.G. Anunoby (wrist) did not play for Toronto.
Toronto shot 48.3 percent (42-for-87) from the field. Detroit shot 50.6 percent (40-for-79), including 53.7 percent (22-for-41) in the second half.
The Grizzlies followed on an 11-4 run during which Bane scored a 3-point play and another layup. Morant’s first make and two trips to the line followed, making it a 24-15 game.
Pritchard scored two right-side treys late in the first as Boston closed with an 11-4 spurt.
After another Pritchard trey started Boston’s second, Memphis put up a 7-0 spurt to move ahead 35-29. Boston led 41-39 on White’s layup with 5:10 before halftime. — Field Level Media
