NBA wrap: Celtics' streak snapped; Russell Westbrook gets best of Kevin Durant

A look at the scores and highlights from around the NBA Wednesday.

Published : Nov 23, 2017 14:18 IST

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) goes up for a shot in front of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Thunders' Jerami Grant (9) and Steven Adams (12).
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) goes up for a shot in front of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Thunders' Jerami Grant (9) and Steven Adams (12).
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) goes up for a shot in front of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Thunders' Jerami Grant (9) and Steven Adams (12).

There might not be a night this unpredictable played again in the NBA this season. The Celtics who seemingly couldn't lose, lost; the Warriors got trounced; and the Knicks outscored a team by 31 in a single quarter. 

Starting with the Celtics though, this game was simple. Coach Brad Stevens said Boston could not dig themselves in a hole and expect to get out every night, but did just that and were unable to come back in a 104-98 loss to the Heat. 

"Sometimes you spend so much energy to get back into it, you just don't have enough left," Stevens told reporters after the game. Boston got down by 11 after the first quarter and cut the lead to two in the fourth but they never were able to get on top as their 16-game winning streak came to an end. 

Meanwhile in Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook had his way with the Warriors in a 108-91 win over Golden State. The reigning MVP had 34 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and even got Kevin Durant to get chippy on the court, which is exactly what his former teammate wanted.

 

The Warriors never got going offensively shooting 41.3 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from 3-point range. Durant did have 21 points and five rebounds, but he was one of just three Warriors to score in double digits on the night. Oklahoma City had four of five starters score in double figures.

"I thought we just did a great job," Paul George, who scored 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting, said after the game. "The first quarter, we've been this type of team that came out tonight, second quarter we knew we had to bring it, don't let up, especially against a team like this, and I thought at every point in this game we just imposed our will." 

STUDS OF THE NIGHT

Knicks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 38 points on 13-of-27 shooting with seven assists and six rebounds in a 108-100 win over the Raptors. New York outscored Toronto 41-10 in the third quarter alone.

Clippers forward Blake Griffin tallied his first triple-double of the year with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Clippers broke their nine-game losing streak with a 116-103 win over the Hawks.

Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes scored 22 points and added nine rebounds on a 9-of-19 shooting night, but his final shot was the one that made his night wonderful as he banked in a 3-pointer with no time left on the clock in a 95-94 win over the Grizzlies.

 

DUD OF THE NIGHT

The Trail Blazers struggled offensively in a 101-81 loss to the 76ers, but CJ McCollum was particularly awful. He went 1 of 14 from the field scoring five points and adding five rebounds. He also went 0 for 3 from 3-point range.

 

HIGHLIGHT

It took a great night for the Heat to break the Celtics' 16-game winning streak, but plays like this spinning layup from Justise Winslow helped Miami get it done.

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