Basketball

BOSTON (AP) — Zach LaVine scored a season-high 36 points and the Chicago Bulls used a fourth-quarter flurry to hold off the Boston Celtics 117-108 on Thursday night in the opener of a home-and-home set.

TORONTO — Cam Johnson took over in the fourth quarter as the Brooklyn Nets rallied past the Toronto Raptors 101-94 on Thursday. Johnson went on a 13-4 run in the final 2:24 of the game to lead Brooklyn (11-16) to victory.

ORLANDO, Fla.

DETROIT (AP) — Collin Sexton scored 30 points, Lauri Markkanen had 27 points and 14 rebounds and the Utah Jazz beat the Detroit Pistons 126-119 on Thursday night for for their second victory in 10 games. Keyonte George added 28 points for Utah.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jordan Poole scored 27 points and Malcolm Brogdon added 25 in his return from injury as the Washington Wizards beat the Charlotte Hornets 123-114 on Thursday night.

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic is starting his own foundation, saying his primary goal is to ensure that children learning how to play basketball are doing so the right way and within a positive environment.

TORONTO — Canada's best men's basketball players were left wanting more in 2024. Hamilton's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in NBA MVP voting for the 2023-24 season, the best performance among a record-high 27 Canadians in the league.

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks will be without top scorers Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving after they were ruled out of Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers because of injuries.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without forward Isaac Okoro for several weeks after he suffered a sprained right shoulder.

Milwaukee Bucks (14-11, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (23-4, first in the Eastern Conference) Cleveland; Friday, 7:30 p.m.