NBA Roundup: Jayson Tatum shines as Celtics cruise past Mavericks
After months of recovery from a serious Achilles injury, Jayson Tatum made an immediate impact in his season debut, guiding the Boston Celtics to a convincing 120-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
Tatum finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes, showing flashes of the all-around dominance that has made him one of the NBA’s premier forwards. It marked his first appearance since suffering a torn Achilles during last season’s Eastern Conference semifinal clash against the New York Knicks.
Boston’s supporting cast ensured his return came in a winning effort.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics in scoring with 24 points, while Derrick White added 20. Center Neemias Queta delivered a standout double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds, providing a strong presence inside.
However, the night wasn’t entirely positive for Boston. Veteran center Nikola Vučević exited early after suffering a fractured right ring finger, leaving the Celtics with a potential injury concern moving forward.
For Dallas, Klay Thompson scored 19 points and knocked down five three-pointers, but the Mavericks dropped their sixth consecutive game as defensive issues continued to haunt the team.
Dončić explodes for 44 as Lakers handle Pacers
Across the country, Luka Dončić delivered another scoring masterpiece to power the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
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Dončić poured in 44 points, along with nine rebounds and three steals, and did most of his damage within three quarters. The performance marked his 10th 40-point game of the season, the most in the league.
With the Lakers missing both LeBron James and Deandre Ayton due to injuries, Dončić shouldered the offensive load. His achievement also placed him alongside Lakers legends — Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, as the only players in franchise history with at least 10 games scoring 40 or more points in a season.
Indiana’s struggles continued despite 26 points from Pascal Siakam, as the Pacers suffered their eighth straight loss.
Knicks dominate Nuggets behind Anunoby
At Ball Arena, OG Anunoby delivered a season-best 34 points to lead the New York Knicks to a commanding 142-103 win over the Denver Nuggets. Karl-Anthony Towns added 17 points and 13 rebounds as New York seized control with a 40-point second quarter.
Denver faced adversity when star guard Jamal Murray suffered an ankle injury late in the first half after accidentally stepping on teammate Nikola Jokić. Murray did not return. Jokić still produced 38 points, eight rebounds and five assists, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Denver’s largest defeat of the season.
Meanwhile, Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson orchestrated the offense with 15 assists.
Spurs rally from 25 down to beat Clippers
The San Antonio Spurs staged one of the night’s most dramatic comebacks, overcoming a 25-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-112.
Rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama delivered 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, while Julian Champagnie ignited the comeback with 17 of his 20 points in the third quarter.
De'Aaron Fox chipped in 19 points and nine assists for San Antonio, which has now won 14 of its last 15 games. The Clippers received 30 points from Kawhi Leonard and 26 from Brook Lopez, but their three-game winning streak ended.
Rockets surge past trail blazers late
The Houston Rockets used a fourth-quarter burst to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 106-99. Amen Thompson scored 26 points and sparked a decisive 15-0 run late in the game after teammate Alperen Şengün picked up his fifth foul.
Şengün still finished with a game-high 28 points, while veteran star Kevin Durant contributed 20 points and eight rebounds. Portland was led by 21 points from Jerami Grant, with Jrue Holiday adding 20 points and 10 assists.
Herro’s shooting powers Heat past Hornets
Hot shooting from Tyler Herro helped the Miami Heat defeat the Charlotte Hornets 128-120. Herro drilled eight three-pointers on his way to 33 points, while Bam Adebayo added 24 points and 12 rebounds.
The Hornets had their six-game winning streak snapped despite strong performances from Kon Knueppel (27 points), Brandon Miller (22 points, 13 rebounds) and LaMelo Ball (21 points).
Booker leads Suns past Pelicans
In Phoenix, Devin Booker scored 32 points as the Phoenix Suns held off the New Orleans Pelicans 118-116. Jalen Green contributed 25 points and Phoenix knocked down 20 three-pointers, a season high.
The Pelicans nearly completed a late comeback behind 22 points from Trey Murphy III and 19 each from Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey, but ultimately fell short.
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