Atlanta
Paul Millsap and Tim Hardaway Jr. each had 23 points for Atlanta. The Hawks had won 12 of 16 to move into fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
But the third-place Celtics hit 17 3-pointers and got a season-high 26 points from reserve forward Kelly Olynyk to push past a Hawks team that missed too many open looks from the perimeter.
Horford, a fan favorite during his nine seasons in Atlanta, was booed many times throughout the night after leaving the team as a free agent last summer. He received a standing ovation, though, and waved happily to the crowd after the Hawks showed a brief video tribute between the first and second quarters.
Horford finished with 10 points, six rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes.
Thomas was unstoppable in the closing minutes, hitting a 15-footer and a 3-pointer before knocking down a 19-footer just with 2 seconds remaining to make it 103-101. Millsap missed a jumper at the buzzer.
Boston blistered Atlanta in the third, using a 20-5 run to go up 77-57 on Terry Rozier’s 21-footer.
Jae Crowder added 18 points, including four 3s, for Boston.
Notes: Began the night ranked 29th in rebounding — 18 spots behind Atlanta — but each team grabbed 43 boards. Crowder had a game-high nine and Olynyk had eight. … Olynyk, a reserve forward, played so well in the first half, going 7 for 9 from the field for 18 points, that Celtics coach Brad Stevens put him on the floor over Amir Johnson to begin the third. Johnson played just 8 minutes of the second half and ended the game scoreless. … The Hawks wore dark blue and lime green-trimmed uniforms for the first time since the early 2000s. The strange-looking design was made memorable by Pete Maravich, the star guard who played his first four seasons in Atlanta through 1973-74. … Celtics C Tyler Zeller, sidelined with a sinus infection, didn’t make the trip and was inactive for the sixth straight game.
Sixers 102, Hornets 93
Philadelphia
The Sixers are on their first three-game winning streak since they won four straight from Dec. 29, 2013-Jan. 4, 2014. Led by Embiid, the Sixers have won five of six games overall and are no longer the league laughingstock.
Embiid made six of 12 shots, grabbed eight rebounds and has made basketball fun again in Philadelphia. Embiid waved his arms while fans chanted “Trust the Process!” at him at the free-throw line. Embiid, the rookie center, even heard “MVP!” chants in the final minutes for his role in transforming the Sixers over the last month from cellar dwellers to a competitive team.
Raptors 132, Nets 113
Toronto
DeMarre Carroll had 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Jonas Valanciunas added 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Raptors beat the Nets for the sixth consecutive time. The six straight wins matched Toronto’s longest winning streak over the Nets, established between Jan. 28, 2009, and Dec. 17, 2010.
Timberwolves 96, Thunder 86
Minneapolis
Andrew Wiggins scored 19 points and Brandon Rush had 11 for the Timberwolves, who have won three in a row for the first time all season. The improving Timberwolves defense held the Thunder to 38.8 percent shooting and scored 33 points off of 19 Oklahoma City turnovers.
Grizzlies 110, Rockets 105
Houston
Memphis led by two late in the fourth quarter before scoring the next five points, capped by a 3-pointer by Troy Daniels, to make it 110-103 with 26 seconds left. A dunk by James Harden came next, but Houston missed two shots after that to allow the Grizzlies to hold on for their fourth straight victory.
Bucks 116, Heat 108
Milwaukee
Antetokounmpo also had eight rebounds and six assists after being limited by illness throughout the week.
Greg Monroe added 16 points and 11 rebounds.