Tatum Returns In Near Triple-Double As Celtics Edge Mavericks In Return From Achilles Surgery

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Jayson Tatum returned from a long injury layoff as the Boston Celtics eased past the Dallas Mavericks, Jamal Murray sprained an ankle during the New York Knicks’ heavy win in Denver, and the San Antonio Spurs staged a major comeback to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers in a busy Friday NBA schedule.

The three games produced contrasting stories: a controlled Boston home win built around Jaylen Brown and a cautious Tatum comeback; a record-tying home defeat for Denver alongside Murray’s setback; and a 25-point Spurs fightback that extended one of the league’s hottest current streaks.

Jaylen Brown guided the Boston Celtics past Dallas with 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a 120-100 victory. Derrick White supplied 20 points as Boston collected a fourth win in five outings, while Dallas slid to a sixth straight defeat despite contributions from Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall.

Tatum played his first competitive minutes since rupturing the right Achilles tendon during Game 4 of Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal defeat to New York in May. The forward totalled 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting, with 12 rebounds and seven assists, and appeared in alternating five- and six-minute bursts across a rust‑laden 27 minutes.

Tatum misfired on the opening six field-goal attempts, including three from beyond the arc, but kept screening, moving and feeding teammates to keep the Boston Celtics’ attack flowing. No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg, a Maine native making a first appearance at TD Garden, recorded 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Dallas Mavericks.

Klay Thompson added 19 points for Dallas and Naji Marshall finished with 13, yet the Mavericks struggled to slow Boston’s balance. The Celtics’ main starters built enough control that Tatum could manage his return in measured stints, with Brown and White assuming most of the scoring load against the visiting defence.

In Denver, OG Anunoby delivered 34 points as the New York Knicks overpowered the Nuggets 142-103, beginning a five-game road swing with a one-sided result. Josh Hart chipped in 18 points and Karl-Anthony Towns posted 19 points and 17 rebounds, allowing New York’s starters to rest the entire fourth quarter during the comfortable victory.

The 39-point margin matched the Denver Nuggets’ heaviest home defeat, first set against Chicago in 1998, and stood as their most lopsided loss of this season. Nikola Jokic scored 38 points, yet Denver’s night worsened when Jamal Murray left with a sprained ankle after the starting lineup finally reunited.

Aaron Gordon, returning from a hamstring issue, played for the first time since Jan. 23, while Cam Johnson came back from a sprained ankle, giving Denver its original starting five for the first time since Nov. 12. That unit lasted only part of the first half as Murray exited shortly before the interval and did not reappear.

Murray, who had logged 45- and 28-point displays earlier in the week, had 12 points when injured with 1:05 remaining in the second quarter. Murray absorbed contact from a driving Anunoby, stepped back onto Jokic’s right foot, fell grabbing the left ankle and was helped to the locker room by Jonas Valanciunas.

The San Antonio Spurs extended their strong run by erasing a 25-point gap to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 117-112, marking a 14th win in 15 games. Victor Wembanyama produced 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, while Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 30 points and nine boards in the defeat.

San Antonio trailed 75-50 in the third quarter but surged back, opening the final period with an 18-5 burst to take a first lead since the early minutes. Wembanyama’s block on Kris Dunn’s reverse layup sparked a fast break that ended in an alley-oop dunk by Carter Bryant, followed by a Devin Vassell three-pointer for a 99-97 advantage.

In the closing moments, San Antonio’s defence forced a key stop on Leonard’s missed three. Wembanyama then leaked out for an uncontested dunk, putting the Spurs ahead 113-112 with 16 seconds left. On the next possession, Clippers forward Nicolas Batum stepped on the sideline while inbounding, turning the ball over at a crucial stage.

Rookie guard Stephon Castle secured the result by rebounding his own missed free throw, converting a layup with one second remaining to seal the 117-112 scoreline. Julian Champagnie added 20 points and nine rebounds for the San Antonio Spurs, while De’Aaron Fox contributed 19 points and nine rebounds in the comeback win.

The night left Boston encouraged by Tatum’s steady return, New York boosted by a dominant offensive display, and San Antonio further established as one of the league’s in-form sides. Denver, Dallas and the Clippers, meanwhile, faced concerns ranging from form and losing streaks to Murray’s latest injury issue.