The Chicago Bulls stormed home from a 19-point second-half deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics 128-114 on Monday night and claim their sixth win in seven games this season.
After a tight first quarter, Boston made a late run in the second to take an eight-point lead into half-time.
They turned that lead into a 94-75 advantage late in the third and looked destined for their second win of the new season.
? @DeMar_DeRozan drops a season-high 37 PTS to lead the way for the @chicagobulls! pic.twitter.com/9txkFAqKxf
— NBA (@NBA) November 2, 2021
However, Chicago exploded out of the gates in the final quarter, scoring the first 12 points to get within reach of a remarkable comeback.
Despite a brief fightback from Boston, the Bulls proved unstoppable down the stretch, outscoring their opponents 39-11 in the fourth to maintain their spot on top of the Eastern Conference.
The Toronto Raptors also staged a comeback to beat the New York Knicks 113-104 on the 75th anniversary of the NBA’s first game – played between the Knicks and the Toronto Huskies on November 1, 1946.
The visitors outscored the Knicks by 13 points in the second half, led by OG Anunoby who finished the contest with a career-high 36 points.
A career-high 36 PTS from @OAnunoby lifts the @Raptors to the win in an anniversary rematch of the first game in NBA history ? #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/j0TYl3dTfG
— NBA (@NBA) November 2, 2021
Gary Trent Jr added 26 points for the Raptors, while RJ Barrett top scored for New York with 27 points.
The Cleveland Cavaliers held off a late rally from the Charlotte Hornets to earn a tight 113-110 win.
Darius Garland drained two free throws at the death to break up a 15-point run from Charlotte and cement Cleveland’s fourth win of the season.
Paul George posted 32 points and nine rebounds to help the Los Angeles Clippers claim a gritty 99-94 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Second-half showcase in LA ?@Yg_Trece goes off for 27 PTS in the second half and finishes with 32 PTS, 9 REB and 7 AST in the @LAClippers comeback win! pic.twitter.com/6AbRE4MPzA
— NBA (@NBA) November 2, 2021
George fuelled a late surge to help the Clippers overturn a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points as Los Angeles rode a 16-3 run to end a two-game slide.
The Denver Nuggets were left to rue a poor shooting display from three-point range as they succumbed to a 106-97 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Nuggets made just nine of their 38 attempts from beyond the arc as Ja Morant led Memphis with a game-high 26 points.
Elsewhere, the Indiana Pacers cruisd to a 131-118 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, the Philadelphia 76ers held off the Portland Trail Blazers 113-103, the Orlando Magic romped to a 115-97 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Washington Wizards 118-111.
