The Boston Celtics improved their record in the Eastern Conference to 51-14 after a third successive victory, as they overcame the Utah Jazz 123-107.
Despite being without the absent trio of Kristaps Porzingis, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford, Jayson Tatum put up 38 points as the Celtics sealed their 51st win of the season.
Derrick White contributed 24 points, while four other Boston players finished the game with double-figure hauls in a dominant performance.
“The fact that the last couple of games everybody is stepping up – it’s just what we’re trying to build,” the Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game.
“A culture, an environment in the locker room where it doesn’t matter who’s in, everybody is ready to play at any time.”
As for the Western Conference, things are heating up after the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to a 121-111 defeat against the Indiana Pacers.
Defeat for the Thunder means they are now level with reigning champions and second place Denver Nuggets with a record of 45-20, jut ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves who have lost one more game.
Myles Turner was the driving force for the Pacers, scoring 24 points to disrupt the leaders’ three-game winning streak, while Tyrese Haliburton backed his compatriot with 18 points and nine assists as six Pacers’ players posted double-digit hauls.
