Boston Celtics trounce Spurs in San Antonio

The Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to seven games, with the Spurs being their latest conquest in a 135-115 rout in San Antonio.

But the Celtics’ celebrations were tempered by Gordon Hayward fracturing his left hand in the second quarter, an injury that will be re-evaluated on Monday.

The home side started well, leading 7-0 early in the first quarter, but then Jaylen Brown scored seven straight to even the score.

By half-time  the Celtics were leading 72-54, a lead they had no intention of giving up.

Brown ended with 30 points and Kemba Walker finished with 26 as Boston closed out the Spurs.

The Celtics (7-1) remain top of the Eastern Conference, while San Antonio (5-4) slip to ninth in the West.

D’Angelo Russell scored 32 points, but the Golden State Warriors still lost 114-108 in Oklahoma City against the Thunder.

Among his scores, Russell beat the buzzer to end the third quarter and equalise at 84-84.

With 17.7 seconds left on the clock, Russell put the Warriors within four points of Oklahoma, but then Alec Burks fouled Chris Paul, who hit both free throws to lead the home side to victory.

It was Golden State’s third straight loss and their sixth in seven games, leaving them on 2-7 and third from bottom in the West, while the Thunder (3-5) lie in 10th.

In Charlotte, the Hornets were beaten 115-110 by New Orleans as the Pelicans snapped a three-game losing streak.

Brandon Ingram got 25 points and nine rebounds as the Pelicans overcame 26 turnovers to win.

New Orleans (2-7) still lie bottom of the West though, while the Hornets (4-5) are in eighth place in the East.

Elsewhere, the Bulls were beaten 117-94 in Chicago by the the Houston Rockets, and the Memphis Grizzlies lost at home to the Dallas Mavericks  138-122.