Dec 28, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (11) drives past Houston Rockets forward Nene (42) and guard Trevor Ariza (1) during the second half at TD Garden. Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
BOSTON — The Boston Celtics pulled off the biggest comeback of the NBA season Thursday night.
Down by 26 points early in the third quarter, Boston never led until Al Horford scored with 3.7 seconds left, escaping with a wild 99-98 victory that sent the Houston Rockets to their fourth straight loss.
Two straight offensive fouls in the backcourt resulting from James Harden knocking down Marcus Smart as Houston tried to inbound the ball with no timeouts left turned the game in the closing seconds.
Kyrie Irving paced the Celtics with 26 points. Harden led all scorers with 34 points but was only 7 of 27 from the floor.
Spurs 119, Knicks 107
SAN ANTONIO — LaMarcus Aldridge scored a game-high 25 points, and Pau Gasol added 17 points and 11 rebounds to rack up his fourth straight double-double as San Antonio rolled past New York.
All five starters scored in double figures for the Spurs, who won their straight game. Kyle Anderson, who started in place of Kawhi Leonard, scored 16 points, and Danny Green and Tony Parker hit for 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Michael Beasley led the Knicks with 23 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. Kristaps Porzingis, who fouled out with 2:30 left, and Courtney Lee had 18 points apiece.
Magic 102, Pistons 89
ORLANDO, Fla. — Point guard Elfrid Payton had 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in leading Orlando to a victory over Detroit that snapped a nine-game losing streak.
The Pistons lost for only the second time in the past seven games.
Evan Fournier scored 17 points for the Magic. Bismack Biyombo, in his second start of the season, had a season-high 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Aaron Gordon added 14 points.
Tobias Harris led Detroit with 21 points. Andre Drummond had 17 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Ish Smith, in his first start of the season, scored 18 points.
Bucks 102, Timberwolves 96
MILWAUKEE — Eric Bledsoe hit a 3-pointer with 2:25 left to give Milwaukee its first lead of the night in a victory over Minnesota at the Bradley Center.
Bledsoe scored 26 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, who shot 54.7 percent from the floor and overcame a 20-point deficit in the second half.
The Timberwolves were hitting at a 57.7 percent clip through three quarters but went 2 of 10 from beyond the arc and 4 of 19 overall in the fourth quarter.
Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 22 points. Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler finished with 21 and 20, respectively, as the Timberwolves’ five-game winning streak ended.
