NBA roundup: Celtics and Mavs stretch win streaks, Nikola Jokic shines again

The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks continued their winning streaks as they resumed play after the All-Star break on Thursday, securing their seventh consecutive victories in the NBA.

Derrick White contributed 28 points and Jayson Tatum added 25 to guide the Celtics to a 129-112 victory over the Bulls in Chicago.

Boston initially took a 16-point lead in the first quarter, but the Bulls fought back in the second period, outscoring them 39-28.

Despite trailing by three at halftime, the Celtics managed to regain control. Both White and Tatum made five three-pointers each, with the team connecting on a total of 23 shots from beyond the arc.

Nikola Vucevic led Chicago with 22 points and 14 rebounds, but Boston's strong defensive effort in the second half proved too much for the Bulls to handle.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, the Mavericks were also down by three at halftime. However, they started the third quarter with a 16-0 run, establishing a double-digit lead that they maintained until the end of the game.

Luka Doncic commented on the challenging nature of the first game after the All-Star break, praising the team's performance against a formidable opponent.

Devin Booker led Phoenix with 35 points while Kevin Durant contributed 23. Despite their efforts, the Suns were unable to catch up to the Mavs in the late game.

Irving extended Dallas's lead to double digits early in the fourth quarter with an impressive coast-to-coast play.

The victory allowed the Mavs to match Phoenix's 33-23 record and secure the tiebreaker. "It was a significant game," Doncic commented as the Mavs moved up to sixth place in the West.

Jokic of the Denver Nuggets made history by recording a triple-double against every team he has faced in the league, joining LeBron James and Russell Westbrook in this achievement.

The reigning champion Nuggets ended their three-game losing streak after the All-Star break, which was crucial for them.

Jokic mentioned the importance of this win, especially since he achieved his 16th triple-double of the season, placing him second on the list behind Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis, who recorded his 19th triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 127-122 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.