The Boston Celtics didn’t do much wrong in the opening quarter and breezed to a 139-96 home victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila).
Boston was 18-for-29 from the field (62.1 percent) in the opening frame and led 46-16 after 12 minutes. It was the largest lead the Celtics have had after the first quarter in franchise history.
The Celtics made 8 of 11 3-pointers in the period– including their first seven attempts– and outrebounded Brooklyn 20-6. The 2018-19 Golden State Warriors hold the NBA record for most points in a first quarter (51).
Boston’s Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 31 points, and Jaylen Brown added 26 points. Kyrie Irving had 20 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Nets, who have lost their past 10 games against Boston (including the postseason).
In other games, it was the Sixers 105, Magic 94; Blazers 122, Grizzlies 112; Wolves 119, Warriors 114 (OT); Jazz 131, Raptors 128; Rockets 112, Thunder 106; Kings 119, Spurs 109; and Hawks 132, Suns 100.
Sixers 105, Magic 94
Joel Embiid had 28 points and 11 rebounds, James Harden added 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds and host Philadelphia defeated Orlando.
Harden went 6 of 10 from 3-point range, while Tobias Harris scored 16 points for the Sixers, who avenged a 119-109 loss to the Magic two nights earlier.
Markelle Fultz led the Magic with 18 points, Paolo Banchero added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Franz Wagner finished with 13 points. Orlando lost for the third time in four games.
Blazers 122, Grizzlies 112
Damian Lillard recorded 42 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds to lift visiting Portland to a victory over Memphis. The Trail Blazers outscored the Grizzlies 38-22 in the fourth quarter.
Portland’s Anfernee Simons scored 26 points and Jerami Grant added 18 before exiting in the third quarter due to concussion-like symptoms. Jusuf Nurkic departed early in the first quarter after aggravating a lingering calf issue.
Ja Morant collected 32 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have lost six of their past seven games overall. They also saw their eight-game home winning streak come to a halt.
