NBA roundup: Celtics battle back to beat Wizards, Lakers down Pelicans

The Boston Celtics overcame a slow beginning to triumph over the struggling Washington team on Friday, while the Los Angeles Lakers showcased their offensive prowess in their NBA victory against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Celtics, who are currently leading the league, started off the game against the Wizards with a lackluster and uninterested performance. Despite the Wizards being ranked second-to-last in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics struggled to contain them in transition, allowing 71 points in the first half and trailing by seven at halftime.

However, the Celtics turned things around in the third quarter, outscoring the Wizards 36-16 and taking control of the game. They extended their lead to as much as 15 points and managed to hold off a late rally from Washington, ultimately winning the game 133-129.

Jayson Tatum had an impressive performance for Boston, scoring 35 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out eight assists. Kristaps Porzingis, playing against his former team, contributed 34 points and 11 rebounds.

Porzingis acknowledged that the Celtics' first half wasn't terrible, but they knew they had to improve their defense and limit Washington's transition opportunities in the second half. Tatum expressed satisfaction with the win, acknowledging that it may not have been the prettiest victory, but a win is a win.

In another game, the Lakers dominated the Pelicans with a 139-122 victory. D'Angelo Russell led the Lakers' scoring with 30 points, 21 of which came in the first half when the team put up an impressive 87 points. All five Lakers starters scored at least 20 points in the game.

Meanwhile, in Sacramento, Domantas Sabonis had a standout performance, outperforming Denver's Nikola Jokic, a two-time MVP. Sabonis recorded his 16th triple-double of the season, leading the Kings to a convincing 135-106 win over the reigning champion Nuggets.

Sabonis expressed his competitive spirit, relishing the opportunity to face off against Jokic, who now trails him in triple-doubles this season.

Sabonis finished the game with 17 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists, connecting on seven of his nine field goal attempts. Malik Monk led the Kings in scoring with 23 points, while Keegan Murray had a scoreless outing in the Kings' previous game but bounced back with a strong performance.

The Toronto Raptors managed to secure a 107-104 home victory against the Houston Rockets, despite their 22-point lead dwindling to just one. Immanuel Quickley contributed 25 points to the Raptors' score, while RJ Barrett added 21.

Barrett's two free throws ultimately sealed the win for Toronto, as Houston's Dillon Brooks managed to cut the deficit to 105-104 with a three-pointer in the final 23.3 seconds.

In Milwaukee, Damian Lillard made a strong return after a two-game absence due to a sprained ankle. He scored 26 points for the Bucks, who dominated the Charlotte Hornets with a commanding 120-84 victory. Milwaukee led by as many as 42 points during the game.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks put an end to their two-game losing streak in Philadelphia. Trae Young played a pivotal role, scoring 37 points and distributing 12 assists to lead the Hawks to a 127-121 triumph over the injury-depleted 76ers.

The 76ers, missing their reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, who underwent surgery to repair a meniscus injury in his left knee, were led by Kelly Oubre Jr with 28 points. Tobias Harris contributed 21 points, while Buddy Hield and Cam Payne, who made their 76ers debuts after being acquired before the trade deadline, added 20 points each.

Despite Embiid's absence, Sixers president Daryl Morey expressed hope that the star player could potentially return for the playoffs. Morey stated that the feedback regarding Embiid's procedure has been mostly positive, and the team is optimistic about his recovery. The 76ers are focused on building a stronger team to enhance their performance this season.