Jaylen Brown scored 32 factors and Jayson Tatum added 27 because the Boston Celtics remained unbeaten at dwelling, defeating Houston 145-113 on Saturday in former Celtics coach Ime Udoka’s return to Boston.
The Celtics improved to an NBA-best 30-9 general and 19-0 at dwelling, the league’s solely undefeated membership at dwelling stretching its team-record dwelling win streak to start out a season.
Brown, who scored 21 factors within the third quarter when the Celtics pulled away to remain, hit 11-of-15 photographs from the ground, 4-of-6 from 3-point vary, and added six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked photographs.
“Being aggressive. A lot of times defense gets you going,” Brown stated of his third-period success. “I get it on the run and when we play like that in transition we’re tough to beat.”
Udoka guided the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals, the place they misplaced to Golden State, however he was suspended simply earlier than the beginning of the 2022-23 season coaching camp over an improper relationship with a crew staffer.
Udoka in the end was dropped and changed by former assistant Joe Mazzulla on a everlasting foundation final February.
“I’m glad to see Ime back coaching on the sidelines,” Brown stated. “I’m glad to see a lot of the staff we spent time with over there in Houston. I wish those guys the best of luck.”
Asked how he mirrored on his departure, Udoka stated, “Job not completed. The relationships you construct and the individuals you influence, so that may be the most important factor.
When it got here to his regrets, Udoka was equally matter-of-fact.
“The biggest thing I’d say overall is letting some people down, for sure,” Udoka stated. “But we’ve talked it out and I’ve seen a lot of these people throughout the summer and talk regularly and so we move past it.”
Mazzulla performed down the influence of Udoka’s return with the Rockets, who employed him as head coach final April.
“The fact Ime is back is great,” he stated. “But I don’t think that really has anything to do with winning or losing.”
Both have been essential to the Celtics after being thumped 135-102 at Milwaukee on Thursday.
“Last game we didn’t feel like we were at our best,” Brown stated. “We wanted to come out and make sure we stayed undefeated on the home court.”
Thunder share West lead
The Oklahoma City Thunder jumped right into a share of the Western Conference lead as quantity three NBA scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander netted 37 factors to steer the host Thunder over Orlando 112-100.
The Thunder’s win streak stretched to 5 video games and with a document of 27-11 the membership matched the Minnesota Timberwolves atop the West.
At Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 factors, Damian Lillard added 27 and Khris Middleton netted 24 with 10 assists to steer the Bucks over visiting Golden State 129-118.
Jonathan Kuminga scored 28 off the bench to steer the Warriors, who rested star guard Stephen Curry.
Rookie Jordan Hawkins scored a season-best 34 factors to steer the New Orleans Pelicans over host Dallas 118-108. Hawkins hit 11-of-19 photographs from the ground, 6-of-12 from 3-point vary.
Kyrie Irving’s 33 factors led the Mavericks, who have been with out Luka Doncic as a result of an ankle damage.
Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic had 24 factors and 16 rebounds whereas DeMar DeRozan added 20 factors to steer the Bulls over host San Antonio 122-116.
Tre Jones scored 30 factors to steer the Spurs, who have been with out French rookie star Victor Wembanyama, who’s enjoying restricted minutes as a result of an ankle damage.
In Atlanta, Kyle Kuzma scored 29 factors and the Washington Wizards (7-31) snapped a six-game dropping streak with a 127-99 victory over the host Hawks.
The Utah Jazz, fueled by 29 factors, 9 rebounds and 5 assists from Lauri Markkanen, beat the Los Angeles Lakers 132-123.
Lakers star Anthony Davis had a triple-double of 15 factors, 15 rebounds and 11 assists, however with LeBron James sidelined by a left ankle damage it wasn’t sufficient.
The Jazz scored 27 fast-break factors to the Lakers 14 and parlayed 12 Lakers turnovers into 23 factors.
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