\n<\/p>\n
Jaylen Brown scored 37 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Phoenix Suns 127-112 to extend their winning run to four games. <\/b><\/p>\n
Jayson Tatum added 26 points and Al Horford 24 as victory at home edged the Celtics closer to securing the NBA Eastern Conference’s top seeding for the play-offs.<\/p>\n
Devin Booker led the Suns’ scorers with 23 points, with Bradley Beal making 22.<\/p>\n
The Celtics are clear leaders in the Eastern Conference with a 52-14 record.<\/p>\n
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said: “Everything with [Brown] starts with his defensive intensity. Getting off to a great start defensively gets him going and that’s big for our team.<\/p>\n
“And he can score on anybody at any time. He’s playing really well-rounded basketball on both ends. It’s fun to watch.”<\/p>\n
The defeat for the 38-28 Suns places them seventh in the Western Conference, outside the top six automatic play-off places.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/b> returned to the top of the Western Conference with a narrow 126-119 win over the Dallas Mavericks.<\/p>\n
Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 36 points for Dallas but Oklahoma City pulled away in the second half thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 points and 27 from Jalen Williams.<\/p>\n
Oklahoma are level in the conference with the Denver Nuggets on 42 wins and 20 defeats, but they take first place because of their 3-1 record against the NBA champions in games this season. <\/p>\n
Also on Thursday, the Milwaukee Bucks<\/b> produced a fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-105. <\/p>\n
Philadelphia, who are still without injured NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, led by 10 in the third quarter but saw their advantage slip away. <\/p>\n
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee scoring with 32 points, with Brook Lopez adding 19 and Damian Lillard 17.<\/p>\n
The Bucks are second in the Eastern Conference with a 43-24 record.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers<\/b> claimed a comfortable 126-111 victory at the Chicago Bulls. <\/p>\n
Paul George finished with 28 points and Kawhi Leonard added 27 as the Clippers stay fourth in the Western Conference on 42-23, three and a half wins behind Denver and Oklahoma City. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n