Boston Celtics stretch NBA winning streak to eight games

NEW YORK – Jaylen Brown scored 30 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 22, as the Boston Celtics stretched their National Basketball Association (NBA) winning streak to eight games on Feb 24 by defeating the New York Knicks 116-102.

The Celtics improved the NBA’s best record to 45-12 and boosted their winning run to a season high while stretching their Eastern Conference lead over the second-place Cleveland Cavaliers to eight games.

Celtics centre Al Horford was quoted by ESPN as saying: “We’re really trying to play the right way. I feel like (Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla) is really challenging us to continue to get better.

“This is the stretch of the season where we can really take it to another level, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Jayson Tatum added 19 points, six rebounds and six assists as Boston had six scorers in double figures.

“We’ve got so many good players,” Tatum said.

“We always talk about respecting one another’s space. It’s about understanding it’s a rhythm game. It’s going to come back to you eventually.”

Tatum says the players adopt a long-term approach, keeping in mind the overall goal is an NBA title in June.

“We understand the important goal, what we’re really trying to accomplish, so every single night we’re trying to share the love, play the right way and make sure we win more often than not,” Tatum said.

Jalen Brunson had game highs of 34 points and nine assists to lead the Knicks, who fell to 34-23.

Porzingis, who began his NBA career with the Knicks in 2015, sank two three-pointers and Brown scored five points in a 17-5 third-quarter run that gave the Celtics their biggest lead to that point at 84-71, on the way to a 97-84 lead after three quarters. Boston hit 68 per cent of their shots from the floor entering the fourth quarter.

Boston kept the Knicks scoreless for five minutes in the heart of the fourth quarter to help seal New York’s fate, with the Celtics stretching the lead to as many as 20 points.

At Minneapolis, the Minnesota Timberwolves seized sole possession of the Western Conference lead with a 101-86 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 to spark Minnesota, who improved to 40-17, ½ a game ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Nets sank to 21-35 with their fourth loss in a row.

In the night’s only other game, Paolo Banchero’s three-point play with 0.1 of a second remaining gave the Orlando Magic a 112-109 victory at the Detroit Pistons. Banchero sank the game-winning jumper while being fouled and added the free throw for the dramatic triumph.

“It was important,” said a tearful Banchero of his final shot. “It was a hard game and I’ve been sick. I’ve been feeling terrible.

“I just give credit to my teammates. They lifted me up the whole game.

“I don’t know why I’m crying. It was a hard game. I’m proud of my team.”

Banchero’s 15 points led eight double-figure scorers for Orlando, who improved to 32-25, level with the Indiana Paces for sixth in the East.

The Pistons, led by Cade Cunningham’s 26 points, fell to an NBA-worst 8-48 with a fifth consecutive loss.

Franz Wagner’s free throw gave Orlando a 109-105 lead with 96 seconds remaining.

Cunningham answered with a jumper and a lay-up for Detroit, the latter pulling the Pistons level at 109-109 with 12 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Banchero’s heroics. AFP