NBA Roundup: Down by 19, Celtics Rally Past Grizzlies

Memphis, Tenn. — Kyrie Irving had 26 points and 13 assists, Al Horford added 18 points, including a pair of key 3-pointers in the closing 1:32, and the Boston Celtics rallied for a 112-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

Marcus Morris scored 22 points for Boston, and Gordon Hayward had 14 off the bench.

Mike Conley led Memphis with 26 points, while Dillon Brooks added 19. Jaren Jackson Jr and Marc Gasol finished with 15 points apiece.

Irving scored 22 in the second half for the Celtics, who trailed by 19 early in the second half, but forced the Grizzlies into 1-for-16 shooting to start the fourth. A pair of layups by Irving erased the Memphis lead at the midway point of the period.

The teams exchanged the lead five times in the quarter before baskets from Morris and Hayward gave Boston a slight edge. Horford’s 3-pointer with 1:32 left gave Boston a 103-99 lead and another one with 34 seconds left — his fifth of the night — ended Memphis’ hopes.

Memphis played a solid first half to carry a 64-47 lead at the break. The Grizzlies shot 65 percent for the half, despite going 4 of 13 from outside the arc.

Conley had 12 and Gasol and Jackson added 11 apiece for Memphis.

Meanwhile, Boston was at 45 percent. No Celtics had reached double figures, and Irving, who entered the game averaging 23.3 points, was stymied at four points on one field goal and a pair of free throws.

Irving would become much more a part of the Boston offense in the third quarter, scoring 12 points. That helped Boston whittle away at what was once a 19-point deficit just after halftime.

Rockets 108, Pelicans 104

New Orleans — James Harden scored 41 points, becoming the first NBA player since Oscar Robertson to record at least 35 points and five assists in seven consecutive games, to power Houston over New Orleans. Harden had 26 points in the first half and reached 40 for the third straight game.

Bucks 129, Nets 115

Milwaukee — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, helping to turn away Brooklyn’s attempt to rally from a 23-point deficit early in the fourth quarter, and Milwaukee beat the undermanned Nets.

Hawks 111, Cavaliers 108

Atlanta — Trae Young and Vince Carter each scored 21 points, John Collins added 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Atlanta beat Cleveland.

Jazz 129, Knicks 97

Salt Lake City— Rudy Gobert had 25 points and 16 rebounds as Utah defeated New York.

Wizards 130, Hornets 126

Washington — Trevor Ariza scored 24 points and was one of seven Washington players in double figures as the Wizards defeated the Charlotte amid news five-time All-Star guard John Wall will have season-ending surgery.

The Wizards announced on Saturday that Wall would undergo surgery to address bone spurs in his left heel and miss at least six months.