The Boston Celtics had a lot of work in Minneapolis against the Timberwolves, and finally emerged with a 104-102 NBA victory on Wednesday, while center Bam Adebayo efficiently routed the Miami Heat over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Star Jaylen Brown contributed 35 points and Jayson Tatum scored 22 and the latter clinched the victory with two free throws late against the ‘Grey Wolves’.
The Celtics struggled with their shooting — they shot 40.5% from the field and made 12 of 40 3-pointers — but their defense delivered enough to pull out the win.
“We just stayed the course. I think defensively we won the game,” Brown said. “Whatever it takes to get a win. We have to trust each other as teammates, that’s part of being a good team, we have to keep building those habits,” he added.
In Miami, the Heat defeated the third-place team in the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies, by a score of 138-119.
The Grizzlies are still without star guard Ja Morant, who was suspended eight games Wednesday after broadcasting video of himself holding a gun while intoxicated at a nightclub.
The suspension covers the six games Morant has already missed following disciplinary action by his team and he will be eligible to play again starting Monday.
Without him, the Grizzlies found themselves down 28 points late in the third quarter, allowing Miami to rest star Jimmy Butler, who had scored 23 points, in the fourth quarter.
Center Adebayo scored 26 points and Tyler Herro 24 as the Heat produced a season-best shooting average of 59.8%.
In Cleveland, Cameroonian Joel Embiid starred again with 38 points as the Philadelphia 76ers posted a sixth straight win with a 118-109 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Sixers, third in the Eastern Conference just one spot ahead of the Cavs, were in a close contest until the end when Tyrese Maxey hit a 3-pointer and the Philadelphians made five of 3s in the final 51 seconds to clinch the win.
That all came after Embiid was initially sent off after being called for his sixth foul for shoving Evan Mobley with four minutes and 12 seconds left on the clock.
But 76ers coach Doc Rivers successfully defied the call, and while he had to watch out for the rest of the game, he helped lead his team to a significant victory.
Embiid, who also had 18 rebounds and four blocks, said the officials had given him the benefit of the doubt.
The six-time All Star is a contender for this season’s MVP award, but said his focus was elsewhere.
“I’m just trying to win, get as many wins as we can and bring the group together, do our job. My teammates make my job easier. We’re doing it as a team,” Embiid said.
Embiid was supported by fellow star James Harden, who scored 28 points, and Tyrese Maxey, who contributed 23.
Philadelphia is now just a half game behind the second-place Boston Celtics in the East.
– Results of Wednesday in the NBA:
Philadelphia a Cleveland 118-109
Sacramento a Chicago 117-114
Boston and Minnesota 104-102
Miami a Memphis 138-119
Houston a LA Lakers 114-110
Dallas at San Antonio 137-128 (in overtime)
LA Clippers a Golden State 134-126
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