Jaylen Brown Leads Celtics to Big Win Over Pacers, 142-105

Jaylen Brown scored 44 points as the Boston Celtics bounced back from consecutive losses with a dominant 142-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Jayson Tatum added 22 points and Payton Pritchard contributed 18 in Boston’s highest-scoring game of the season. The win fueled by Jaylen Brown’s 44 points, helped the Celtics stay within reach of Eastern Conference leaders, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland led by Donovan Mitchell’s 33 points, secured their sixth straight win, defeating the Denver Nuggets 149-135.

Despite a triple-double from MVP Nikola Jokic, who recorded 27 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists, the Cavaliers extended their league-best record to 27-4, four games ahead of the Celtics. In other NBA action, Anthony Edwards hit a crucial three-pointer with 23.2 seconds left to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 113-112 win over the Houston Rockets, who had a 16-point lead with under five minutes to play.

The New York Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson’s 26 points, extended their winning streak to six games with a 108-85 victory over the Orlando Magic. The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Brooklyn Nets 96-87 with Victor Wembanyama scoring 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors 102-92, despite missing injured star Stephen Curry.

Kyrie Irving’s 20 points helped the Dallas Mavericks beat the Phoenix Suns 98-89 and the Memphis Grizzlies won their eighth in 10 games, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 132-124. Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings fired coach Mike Brown after a five-game losing streak, leaving the team at 12th in the Western Conference.

Assistant Doug Christie will serve as interim head coach. Additionally, the NBA fined Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid $75,000 for making obscene gestures towards the Boston crowd during a game on Christmas Day.