Jayson Tatum, back from injury, continued to shine, scoring 25 points, and Jaylen Brown also scored 25 points to help the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-100 on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series.
Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
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Tatum made 5 of 9 3-pointers in his 19th game of the season after undergoing surgery to repair his Achilles tendon last May. Brown scored eight straight points late in the fourth quarter to take a 96-92 lead, putting some distance between them and a 76ers team that was confident after Boston’s surprise Game 2 win.
Tatum made a three-pointer to lead 100-96, and Payton Pritchard hit a step-back three-pointer to lead 103-98. Tatum, still looking to get back to his best after not playing in nearly a year, might be there to hit the final 3-pointer to take a 106-100 lead and even send Iverson heading for the exits.
Philadelphia center Joel Embiid was sidelined again in Game 3 as he continues to work out after undergoing an appendectomy on April 9.
Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points and Paul George scored 18 points.
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Lakers 112, Rockets 108, overtime
HOUSTON (AP) — LeBron James scored 29 points, including a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, Marcus Smart scored eight points in overtime and Los Angeles took a 3-0 lead in a Western Conference first-round series without Kevin Durant.
The Lakers rallied from a six-point deficit with less than 30 seconds left and were on pace to sweep the series on Sunday night in Houston.
Smart contributed 21 points and 10 assists for the Lakers, and Rui Hachimura contributed 22 points for the Lakers.
Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 33 points and 16 rebounds. Amen Thompson scored 26 points and had 11 rebounds.
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Spurs 120, Trail Blazers 108
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Stephen Castle scored 33 points and the Spurs overcame the absence of Victor Vunbanyama to beat Portland and take a 2-1 series lead.
Dylan Harper added 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who trailed by 15 in the third quarter. Game 4 of the first-round series Sunday at Moda Center.
Before the game, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson announced that Wembanyama would not play as he was still recovering from the concussion he suffered in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
Jrue Holiday scored 29 points for the Trail Blazers, who are making the playoffs at home for the first time since 2021 but were ultimately unable to take advantage of Wombanyama’s absence.
