Best of NBA: Horford's late bucket lifts Celtics over Pistons

Share

AUBURN HILLS. Mich. -- Al Horford got the winning basket, though it was Marcus Smart who made the biggest play.

With the game tied at 92, Jae Crowder missed a go-ahead 3-pointer, but Smart came from the corner to tip the ball back at the basket. His shot didn't go in, but it gave Horford time to set himself for the follow shot with 1.3 seconds left that gave the Boston Celtics a 94-92 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

"The credit goes to Marcus, because that was a championship-level play," Horford said. "He crashed the glass hard."

Said Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy: "We just stood there and watched. They missed and no one moved or blocked out."

Isaiah Thomas had 24 points and eight assists for Boston, while Horford added 18 points and 11 rebounds (see full recap).

Davis, Pelicans edge Hornets in OT for 2nd straight win
NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Davis spent much of the final seven minutes of New Orleans' game against Charlotte around the rim, cleaning up missed layups and jumpers from teammates.

He was only doing what he was told to do.

Davis had 38 points and 16 rebounds, Jrue Holiday added 22 points and nine assists, and the Pelicans beat the Hornets 121-116 in overtime Saturday night for their second straight win.

"Those guys usually make those shots but you never know," Davis said afterwards. "Jrue even told me, `If I'm going to the basket, just follow behind me.'"

New Orleans (4-10), which hadn't won back-to-back games all season, overcame a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit and found unlikely bench scoring from guard Langston Galloway to keep Charlotte (8-4) from tying its best franchise start through 12 games (see full recap).

Dragic, Whiteside lead Heat to 114-111 win over Wizards
WASHINGTON -- For the new-look Miami Heat, a high-scoring victory over the Washington Wizards proved winning is possible on a bad defensive night.

Goran Dragic scored 22 points, Hassan Whiteside added 18 and 18 rebounds and the Heat beat the Wizards 114-111 despite some rough moments on the defensive end.

James Johnson had 17 points off the bench for Miami, which both scored and allowed its most points all season to register its first back-to-back wins.

"It's a huge game for us," said Dragic, whose team entered Saturday ranked third in the league in average points allowed. "We're not a team that runs a whole lot. ... But we just need to grind. And we did that tonight."

Miami got its first road victory since its season opener despite 34 points each from Washington's John Wall and Bradley Beal, both good for season highs (see full recap).

Contact Us