Jayson Tatum scored 33 points as the Boston Celtics overturned a double-digit deficit to extend their lead at the top of the NBA Eastern Conference on Saturday with a 122-106 road victory over the lowly Charlotte Hornets.The Celtics entered the game heavily favored to record their sixth straight victory against a Hornets team propping up the conference table with just 11 wins.But Boston were startled by a confident first-half performance from Charlotte, who surged to a 16-point lead midway through the second quarter.Boston trimmed the gap to just four points at halftime, with Charlotte leading 66—62, Then the Celtics cut loose in a devastating burst of scoring after the break.The Celtics outscored Charlotte 33-19 in the third quarter to turn the game on its head and maintained a comfortable cushion through the final period.Malcolm Brogdon had 30 points for Boston, while Al Horford added 16 and Marcus Smart 13.LaMelo Ball led the Hornets' challenge with 31 points."They were more 'up' to play us, and we came out on our heels," Tatum said. "I'm just glad that we played with more physicality, played tougher.
We started hitting some shots, too."The Memphis Grizzlies bagged their ninth win in a row with a 130-112 blowout of the Indiana Pacers.The win leaves Memphis level with Denver at the top of the Western Conference with both teams at 29-13.Desmond Bane drained five three-pointers in a 25-point haul while Ja Morant finished with 23 points and 10 assists in an emphatic win for Memphis.
The Philadelphia 76ers escaped with a 118-117 victory over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, where Sixers big man Joel Embiid made the game-winning step-back jump shot off a pass from James Harden with 4.9 seconds remaining.Harden scored 31