UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Celtics finally found a winning formula against one of the league’s best teams, beating the Phoenix Suns 123-108.
The Celtics got off to a quick start, shooting 58% in the first half and leading by as much as 30 points.
Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart each scored 24 points, while Robert Williams had 10 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds for his first career triple-double, punctuating it with five blocked shots.
In other NBA action:
— LeBron James scored a season-high 43 points and extended his streak of 30-point games to seven in Los Angeles Lakers’ 139-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers had dropped six of their last seven coming into the game. Russell Westbrook had his ninth triple-double of the season.
— Jimmy Butler scored a season-high 37 points and the short-handed Miami Heat built a big lead early and held on for a 120-110 win over the Houston Rockets. The Heat extended their winning streak to five games in their return to action after Wednesday’s game at San Antonio was postponed because Miami didn’t have enough players.
— The Grizzlies have now run off four straight wins. Ja Morant had 30 points, eight assists and six rebounds, leading Memphis to a 118-105 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
— The Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 16-point deficit for a 121-118 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Trae Young scored 35 points, while Clint Capela had 18 points and a season-high 23 rebounds.
— The Raptors beat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-108. Pascal Siakam helped key Toronto’s victory with 25 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet scored 31.
— The Dallas Mavericks rolled past the Sacramento Kings 112-96. Kristaps Porzingis had 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists to lead the Mavs, while Jalen Brunson added 23 points and eight assists.
— The Oklahoma City Thunder beat a depleted New York Knicks team 95-80. After sitting out the Thunder’s last game with a sore ankle, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned to play a team-high 34 minutes and score 23 points.
AP source: Cavs acquiring Rondo from Lakers for Valentine
UNDATED (AP) — A person familiar with the trade tells The Associated Press the Cavaliers have agreed to acquire veteran guard Rajon Rondo in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for swingman Denzel Valentine. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal still must be approved by the NBA.
The Cavs needed an experienced guard after losing Ricky Rubio to a season-ending knee injury. A four-time All-Star, the 35-year-old Rondo averaged 3.1 points and 3.7 assists coming off the bench for the Lakers. He has been in league health and safety protocols and will need to be cleared before joining the Cavs.
In other NBA news:
— The Boston Celtics say Hall of Famer Sam Jones has died at the age of 88. Jones won 10 NBA titles in his 12-year career, second only to teammate Bill Russell. A Celtics spokesman says Jones died last night in Florida, where he had been hospitalized in failing health. The team held a moment of silence before its game against the Phoenix Suns. Jones was a North Carolina native who played for Hall of Fame coach John McLendon at North Carolina Central. Celtics general manager Red Auerbach selected him eighth overall in the 1957 draft despite never seeing him play.
