The Associated Press
Boston
Smart apologized to his teammates, coaches and fans on Twitter on Friday afternoon, saying, “I feel like I let all y’all down.”
The Celtics said Smart returned to Boston after the injury to his right hand “from a non-basketball incident” before Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Smart said he will learn from it and come back better.
Smart is averaging 10 points and a career-high 4.7 assists this season, his fourth in Boston. He missed a potential winning shot against the Lakers on Tuesday night, then did not play against the Clippers on Wednesday.
Cavaliers 115, Pacers 108
Cleveland
James finished with 26 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as the Cavs, following a minor lineup switch by coach Tyronn Lue, won for just the fourth time in 11 games. However, James kept Indiana close in the fourth with six turnovers.
Jazz 97, Raptors 93
Toronto
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Rudy Gobert had 18 points and 15 rebounds and Rubio finished with 14 points for the Jazz, who won consecutive games for the first time since a six-game winning streak was snapped on Dec. 4.
Hornets 121, Hawks 110
Charlotte, n.c.
Nicolas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist each added 19 points as Charlotte rallied to regain a lead it maintained since the second period, but surrendered halfway through the fourth.
Dwight Howard added 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Jeremy Lamb scored 12 points off the bench.
Bucks 116, Nets 91
Milwaukee
Antetokounmpo returned after sitting out two games to manage chronic pain in his right knee. He sealed it late, dribbling between his legs before hitting a jumper over Quincy Acy and drawing a foul. Antetokounmpo made the free throw, and hit a 3-pointer on the next possession.
Police officers used a stun gun on Bucks rookie guard Sterling Brown and arrested the 22-year-old Friday after a confrontation at a Walgreens parking lot.
Police Sgt. Timothy Gauerke said the department is investigating what happened and the officers’ use of force.
Gauerke said officers contacted a man after seeing a vehicle parked across two handicapped parking spots while doing a business check at about 2 a.m. Gauerke did not say what led to the officers’ use of force and it wasn’t immediately known whether Brown was cited for anything.
Pelicans 115, Rockets 113
New Orleans
A fourth straight victory and seventh victory in eight games coming against one of the NBA’s top teams should have been reason to celebrate, but there was a lot of concern about Cousins, who could not put any weight on his left foot as he was helped to the locker room with less than 15 seconds left.
Lakers 108, Bulls 103
Chicago
Jordan Clarkson had 19 points, and Brook Lopez added 17 for the Lakers.
Clippers 109, Grizzlies 100
Memphis, Tenn.
Williams was 12 of 19 from the field and the Clippers shot 49 percent from the field.
Sixers 97, Spurs 78
San Antonio
Simmons added seven assists and five rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge had 18 points for San Antonio. The Spurs lost for just the fourth time at home this season.
