Immanuel Quickley scored a career-high 38 points, playing 55 minutes in place of injured starter Jalen Brunson, and the New York Knicks outlasted the Boston Celtics 131-129 in two overtimes Sunday night for their season-high ninth straight victory.
Quickley had seven points in the second overtime and added eight rebounds and seven assists with Brunson sidelined because of soreness in his left foot.
Julius Randle had 31 points and nine rebounds, and RJ Barrett finished with 29 points and 11 boards for the Knicks, who held on when Boston´s Al Horford front-rimmed a 3-pointer from the right corner just before the final buzzer.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 40 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, Jaylen Brown scored 29 points and Horford finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks shoots over the Boston Celtics Derrick White
Quickley (5) drives toward the basket as Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams in double OT
Randle had 43 points in a victory at Miami on Friday that included an off-balance, game-winning 3-pointer in the closing seconds.
The Celtics were also missing a couple of key players in starting center Robert Williams III (left hamstring tightness) and reserve guard Malcolm Brogdon (right ankle soreness).
Quickley scored New York´s first seven points of the second overtime on a 3-pointer and two driving baskets, skipping in front of Boston´s bench celebrating after the last basket made it 128-123.
Horford nailed a 3-pointer from the right corner with 29.2 seconds left to push Boston ahead 121-119 in the first OT after Randle´s two free throws had moved the Knicks in front.
But Quickley´s driving one-handed flip in the lane tied it before Tatum missed on his baseline drive, sending it to double OT.
Brown´s 3-point play with 12.9 seconds left sent it to overtime.
Coming off an embarrassing home loss in their last game when they blew a 28-point lead against Brooklyn, the Celtics had opened a 14-point edge midway into the third quarter.
The Knicks closed the quarter with a 9-0 surge and pushed their advantage to 100-89 on Obi Toppin´s driving layup early in the final quarter.
Quickley celebrates after a basket in front of the Boston Celtics bench during overtime
CLIPPERS 135, GRIZZLIES 129
Paul George carried the LA Clippers to a win 135-125 over the Memphis Grizzlies after he scored an impressive 42 points and 11 rebounds.
Kawhi Leonard was not far behind as he recorded 34 points and 10 on the night
The Grizzlies had four of five starters score in double figures but this was not enough to overcome the absence of Ja Morant in the first game of his suspension.
LA’s win marked the first since acquiring veteran point guard Russell Westbrook.
Paul George of the LA Clippers moves the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies
BUCKS 117, WIZARDS 111
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 23 points, had a season-high 13 assists and grabbed 10 rebounds for his fourth-triple double of the season, and the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks outlasted the Washington Wizards 117-111 on Sunday night.
Jevon Carter added 20 points while shooting 6 of 10 from beyond the arc, and Jrue Holiday scored 19 in Milwaukee’s victory a night after a home loss to Philadelphia snapped a 16-game win streak.
The Bucks made 22 of their 49 attempts beyond the arc, the most allowed by the Wizards this season. Milwaukee began the night a half-game ahead of Boston for first in the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) goes to the basket against Washington
TRAIL BLAZERS 122, MAGIC 119
Damian Lillard scored eight of his 41 points from the foul line in the final three minutes Sunday night to the lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 122-119 win over the Orlando Magic.
Jerami Grant added 20 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Blazers, and broke a tie with a 3-pointer for the game’s final field goal with 35 seconds left.
The Blazers are one game behind Utah and New Orleans for a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 26 points. Franz Wagner added 24, and Markelle Fultz finished with 15 points, eight assists and four steals.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard celebrates after a shot against the Orlando Magic
JAZZ 129, THUNDER 119
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 38 points and seven rebounds in his return from a five-game absence and the Oklahoma City Thunder led all the way while beating the Utah Jazz 129-119 on Sunday night.
Rookie Jalen Williams added a career-high 32 points on 12-of-15 shooting and Josh Giddey just missed a triple-double with 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for Oklahoma City, which beat the Jazz for the second time in three days. The Thunder also won in blowout fashion on Friday, 130-103.
Utah trailed by double digits for the final 42 minutes of Sunday’s game. Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 18 points but missed all five of his 3-point attempts. The Jazz played without All-Star Lauri Markkanen, who sat out with what the team said was a low-back strain.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots past Utah guard Kris Dunn (11)
NETS 102, HORNETS 86
Mikal Bridges went 9 for 9 in a 19-point first quarter, finishing with 33 to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 102-86 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night. Two nights after coming from 28 down to beat Boston in the biggest comeback in the NBA this season, the Nets led by as much as 37 after Bridges´ fast start in the highest-scoring quarter of his career.
Spencer Dinwiddie added 24 points for the Nets, who have won two straight. Cam Johnson chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Joe Harris had 12 points.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 17 points and Mark Williams added 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Hornets, who have lost three consecutive games.
Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges (1) shoots over Charlotte Hornets guard Dennis Smith Jr.
ROCKETS 142, SPURS 110
Jalen Green scored 31 points and the Houston Rockets got a 142-110 victory over San Antonio on Sunday, beating the Spurs for the second straight night in a matchup of the Western Conference´s worst teams.
The Rockets snapped an 11-game skid with a 122-110 win Saturday night in San Antonio and picked up where they left off at home Sunday, leading by as many as 32.
They were up by 10 at halftime, used a 35-point third quarter to lead by 21 to start the fourth and cruised to the victory.
Rockets Jalen Green, reacts after making a 3-point basket during game against the Spurs