DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 32 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 16 of his 26 points in a huge third quarter for Dallas and the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 124-115 on Sunday.
Christian Wood added 30 points and tied a career high with seven assists as the Mavericks finished off a celebration of Dirk Nowitzki’s statue unveiling by winning just the second Christmas Day home game in franchise history.
Dallas took its first lead during a 51-point third quarter, the highest-scoring quarter on Christmas in NBA history and a league-best this season. Golden State and Orlando have each had a 50-point quarter.
LeBron James scored 38 points, one shy of his season high, and the Lakers led by 12 early in the third before the Mavericks took over.
Donci also had nine assists.
CELTICS 139, BUCKS 118
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 20 of his 41 points in the third quarter, and Jaylen Brown knocked down his shots — and knocked down Giannis Antetokounmpo — in the fourth quarter to help Boston beat Milwaukee in a matchup of the top two teams in the NBA.
Brown scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth, and Antetokounmpo lost his temper after a hard pick sent him to the floor and retaliated by shoving the Boston All-Star. Antetokounmpo, who fell hard on his hand Friday night but was cleared to start, was given a technical foul and went to the bench; the teams played the last 3:41 without further incident.
Antetokounmpo had 27 points and had nine rebounds for Milwaukee, and Jrue Holiday had 23 points.
76ERS 119, KNICKS 112
NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 35 points, James Harden had 29 points and 13 assists and Philadelphia blew by New York in the final quarter, extending its winning streak to eight games,
Georges Niang hit four 3-pointers in Philadelphia’s fourth-quarter surge and finished with 16 points. De’Anthony Melton added 15 as the 76ers got off to a good start on a four-game trip after sweeping a seven-game homestand.
The Sixers never led through three quarters, then outscored the Knicks 24-9 to open the fourth, turning a one-point deficit into a 116-102 lead.
Julius Randle scored 35 points for New York, and Jalen Brunson had 23 points and 11 assists. The Knicks have lost three straight following an eight-game winning streak.
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