NEW YORK – The Boston Celtics knew focus and teamwork were key, as Jaylen Brown scored 26 points in their 119-116 home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in their top-of-the-table National Basketball Association (NBA) Eastern Conference clash on Nov 22.

The Celtics had kissed goodbye to a six-game winning streak on Nov 20 after crashing to an upset defeat by the lowly ranked Charlotte Hornets.

But they ensured there was no chance of a repeat against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the visiting Bucks in the big clash at the TD Garden, taking control of the contest in the first quarter to clinch a wire-to-wire win.

The Celtics jumped to a 10-0 lead and, though the Bucks rallied in the fourth quarter to get within single digits, Boston regrouped and closed out the win.

“Just a team effort. We bounced back and regrouped from the last game,” Jayson Tatum, who had 23 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, told ESPN after the win.

“Sometimes you need to lose a game to regroup and regain focus. I love the way we started the game.

“They made a run late, they’re a good team – but I liked the way we responded in the fourth quarter.”

Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points on a night when no fewer than seven Boston players posted double-digit points as the Celtics preserved their unbeaten home record to improve to 12-3.

“I thought it was great,” said Porzingis. “Obviously, the fans and everyone in the building knew this was No. 1 and No. 2 seed playing against each other, and that just adds more fuel to the atmosphere.

“The energy was there. We played hard and they also made a good push at the end of the game and almost made a comeback, but we held strong.”

The result meant that the Celtics are top of the East, ahead of a group of four (the Orlando Magic, the Bucks, the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers) on 10-5.

In other games on Nov 22, the in-form Magic took down reigning NBA champions Denver Nuggets 124-119. Franz Wagner (27) and Paolo Banchero (23) combined for 50 points as Orlando overcame a nine-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to outscore Denver 42-31 in the final frame to triumph.

Nikola Jokic led Denver with a 30-point triple double that included 13 rebounds and 12 assists.

In Minneapolis, the Minnesota Timberwolves maintained their good form with a 112-99 win over the Sixers. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 31 points while Karl-Anthony Towns added 23 points with 11 rebounds.

A Sixers line-up missing NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid (hip injury) were always chasing the game after shipping 37 points in the first quarter.

In Atlanta, Trae Young grabbed 43 points for the Hawks in a 147-145 overtime thriller against Brooklyn. He appeared locked in a personal duel with the Net’s Mikal Bridges for most of the game.

Bridges finished with a career-high 45 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, but Young rattled in 14 points in overtime for the win.

Elsewhere, Kevin Durant had a game-high 32 points, Devin Booker added 25 and the host Phoenix Suns watched Chris Paul get a two-technical-foul ejection in his homecoming during the Golden State Warriors’ 123-115 loss.

Paul, who spent the last three seasons with the Suns before being dealt to the Washington Wizards in the off-season, got nailed with back-to-back technicals for arguing a foul call late in the second quarter.

In San Antonio, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points in a triumphant return to his former club as the visitors won 109-102.

French star Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 22 points. The game also featured an unusual incident in the second quarter, with San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich grabbing a courtside microphone to appeal to the home fans to stop booing Leonard.

“Excuse me for a second – please stop all the booing, let these guys play, and show a little class,” he barked at the crowd as Leonard lined up a free throw. “It’s not who we are – knock off the booing.” AFP