Popovich returns, Spurs top Celtics 111-89
With coach Gregg Popovich guiding his defending champions again after a two-game absence, the Spurs beat the Boston Celtics 111-89 on Sunday for their seventh straight win.
Popovich was happy to be back coaching, especially after his team outscored the Celtics 66-40 in the second half after trailing 49-45.
The Spurs were led by Danny Green with 18 points, Boris Diaw with 15 and Tim Duncan with 14.
The Celtics were led by Jeff Green with 16 points and Evan Turner with 12 as they dropped to 1-7 in their last eight games.
Bulls 102 Nets 84
Jimmy Butler had 26 points and Pau Gasol added 25 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Bulls to a 102-84 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Butler had previously totaled 20 or more points only nine times in 191 games. The 25-year-old has already eclipsed that mark this year, notching his 11th 20-plus point game.
Rookie Bojan Bogdanovic led the Nets with 13 points and Jarrett Jack added 12.
Grizzlies 97 Kings 85
The Grizzlies started fast and closed with a flurry to beat the short-handed Sacramento Kings 97-85 for their fifth straight win.
Zach Randolph had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Marc Gasol added 18 points and six rebounds to help the Grizzlies hold off a late rally on the road. The frontcourt tandem took advantage of a Sacramento team playing without center DeMarcus Cousins.
Rudy Gay scored 20 points and reserve Reggie Evans finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds as Sacramento (9-8) lost its third game in a row.