March 6, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) scores past Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse (30) during the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images Jayson Tatum had 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in his season debut, helping the Boston Celtics defeat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 120-100 on Friday night.
Tatum, who started for Boston and played 27 minutes, appeared in an NBA game for the first time since tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks last year.
Boston got 24 points from Jaylen Brown and 20 from Derrick White. Nemias Cueta added 16 points and 15 rebounds. The news wasn’t good for Boston, as Nikola Vucevic left the court in the first quarter with a fractured right ring finger.
Klay Thompson hit 5 of 11 3-point attempts and scored 19 points as the Mavericks suffered their sixth straight loss.
Lakers 128, Pacers 117
Luka Doncic had 44 points, nine rebounds and three steals through three quarters to lead Los Angeles past visiting Indiana.
Doncic scored 40 points for the 10th time this season, breaking his tie with Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards for the most. He also became the fourth Laker to have 10 games of 40 or more points in a season, joining the Hall of Fame trio of Kobe Bryant (four times), Elgin Baylor (three times) and Jerry West (three times).
Doncic’s scoring was needed on a night when the Lakers were without LeBron James (elbow, foot) and DeAndre Ayton (knee). Pascal Siakam had 26 points for the Pacers, who have lost eight straight.
Knicks 142, Nuggets 103
OG Anunoby scored a season-high 34 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 17 points and 13 rebounds, and New York handed host Denver its worst loss of the season.
The Nuggets played the second half without Jamal Murray. The star guard scored 12 points, but rolled his left ankle when he stepped on Nikola Jokic’s foot while retreating from defense with 1 minute and 5 seconds left in the second quarter. Murray was helped off the court and did not return.
Jalen Brunson scored just nine points but finished with 15 assists for the Knicks, who used 40 points in the second quarter to take control. Jokic paced the Nuggets with 38 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Spurs 116, Clippers 112
Victor Wembanyama had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots and Julian Champagne added 20 points, 17 of them in the pivotal third quarter as host San Antonio came back from 25 points down to beat Los Angeles.
It was the Spurs’ biggest comeback of the season, their third straight win and their 14th win in their last 15 games. De’Aaron Fox had 19 points and nine assists.
Kawhi Leonard led all scorers with 30 points and Brook Lopez added 26 for the Clippers, who ended their three-game winning streak.
Rockets 106, Trail Blazers 99
Amen Thompson scored 26 points and led a key fourth-quarter rally to lead Houston to a victory over visiting Portland.
After Alperen Sengun, who had a game-high 28 points, picked up his fifth foul with 8 minutes, 29 seconds left in the game and the Rockets trailed 89-85, Thompson scored three straight baskets to spark a 15-0 run. Thompson shot 11 of 12 from the floor and added seven rebounds and seven assists.
Kevin Durant had 20 points and eight rebounds for Houston, which has won five of its last seven games. Jerami Grant led the Trail Blazers, who have lost 3 of 4, with 21 points, while Jrue Holiday added 20 points and 10 assists.
Heat 128, Hornets 120
Tyler Herro hit eight 3-pointers and scored 33 points as visiting Miami beat Charlotte.
Bam Adebayo had 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Heat won their fourth straight game and improved to 7-2 in their last nine games. Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 21 points off the bench.
The Hornets’ six-game winning streak came to an end despite 27 points from Kon Kneuppel, 22 points and 13 rebounds from Brandon Miller and 21 points from LaMelo Ball.
Suns 118, Pelicans 116
Devin Booker scored 32 points, Jalen Green added 25 and host Phoenix nearly squandered 14 fourth-quarter points before holding off New Orleans.
Oso Igodaro had 13 points for the Suns, who hit 20 3-pointers on a season-high 58 attempts. Phoenix had lost seven of its previous 11 games and swept the series for the fourth straight season.
Trey Murphy III had 22 points and four treys, while Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey each had 19 points for the Pelicans, who have won five of seven.
–Field level media
