Celtics lose Hayward to injury, beat Spurs for 7th straight
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 30 points and the Boston Celtics routed the San Antonio Spurs 135-115 on Saturday in a victory that was tempered by the loss of Gordon Hayward, who broke his left hand late in the first half.
Kemba Walker add 26 points as Boston (7-1) won its seventh straight game and set season highs for total points, first quarter scoring (39 points) and first half scoring (72 points).
There was a somberness to the victory, though, as Hayward suffered his second significant injury since signing with the Celtics three seasons ago.
The Boston forward broke his left hand after colliding with San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge with just over a minute remaining in the first half. Hayward was sent for an X-ray that confirmed the diagnosis. He did not return to the game. The Celtics said Hayward will miss at least a month and he could undergo surgery, according to coach Brad Stevens.
DeMar DeRozan had 22 points for the Spurs (5-4), who trailed by as many as 22 points.
Boston has not lost since dropping its season opener to Philadelphia, 107-93, on Oct. 23. The Celtics have outscored their opponents 115-101 since that opening loss and raised that dominance against the Spurs.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Ingram had 25 points and nine rebounds, and New Orleans overcame 26 turnovers to beat Charlotte and snap a three-game losing streak.
JJ Redick had 22 points on five 3-pointers and Jrue Holiday added 12 points and 11 assists for the Pelicans (2-7).
Ingram, who was born and raised in Kinston, North Carolina, finished 8 of 12 from the field and had 10 points in the fourth quarter while the Hornets went cold down the stretch.
Devonte Graham led the Hornets with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Terry Rozier had 18 points. However, both players shot 5 of 14 from the field as the Hornets were limited to 41% shooting as a team.
CHICAGO (AP) — James Harden narrowly missed his first triple-double of the season, finishing with 42 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as Houston pulled away in the second half and beat Chicago.
Russell Westbrook scored 26 points as the Rockets won their third straight.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 13 points and 16 rebounds for Chicago, which has dropped six of eight.
The Bulls were a woeful 4-for-32 shooting from 3-point range.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Luka Doncic fell just short of a triple-double with 24 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists to lead Dallas over Memphis.
Doncic recorded his stats in three quarters as Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle sat the second-year guard while Dallas maintained a double-digit lead in the final period. Kristaps Porzingis already had taken the night off recovering from a left knee injury.
Tim Hardaway Jr. added 20 points for Dallas, Justin Jackson had 17 points and Seth Curry scored 16, all in the first half.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 23 points on 10-for-17 shooting from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers. Jae Crowder added 18 points for the Grizzlies, which lost their second straight.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Danilo Gallinari scored 19 points, Dennis Schroder added 18, and Oklahoma City beat short-handed Golden State.
Chris Paul had 16 points and nine assists, Steven Adams scored 13 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 12 to help the Thunder beat the Warriors for the second time this season. Oklahoma State has won three of its last four games.
D'Angelo Russell scored 17 of his 30 points in the third quarter to lead Golden State, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the score at 84-all heading to the fourth. One night earlier, Russell had 52 against Minnesota.
Alec Burk had 23 points for the Warriors, and Glenn Robinson III finished with 18.