Two of the NBA's best players put on a show in Boston on Friday, with Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard matching each other big play for big play.
In the end, Irving and the Celtics prevailed, 123-116 in overtime.
The Celtics had been in a mini-funk the past couple of weeks, losing four of its past six, and entered the night 24th in the NBA in scoring (105.6 points per game) and 28th in shooting percentage (.429).
But the shots fell for the Celtics (9-6) on Friday, as the team hit 52.8 percent from the field. Irving could not be stopped, shooting 18 of 26 from the floor to finish with 43 points. He also dished out 11 assists. Most impressively, he scored 19 in the fourth quarter as the two teams battled back and forth.
Irving then contributed to every Celtics basket in overtime, scoring four and handing out four assists.
Jayson Tatum chipped in 21 for the Celtics and Gordon Hayward, who has struggled to find his shot so far after missing all of last season to an injury, had a big basket in OT and ended with 15 points.
The Celtics' effort spoiled a great night by Leonard, who had 31 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Raptors, who fall to 12-4.
"He's one of the greatest playing our game right now, obviously," Irving told ESPN, when asked about Leonard.
STUDS OF THE NIGHT
Anthony Davis had 43 points and 17 rebounds to rally the Pelicans from a 19-point deficit in a 129-124 win against the Knicks.
Jimmy Butler had 28 points (on 12-of-15 shooting) and seven assists in his home debut for the 76ers as it topped the Jazz 113-107.
Rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. had a career-high 27 for the Grizzlies in its 112-104 win against the Kings.
DUDS OF THE NIGHT
The Wizards made only three of 17 3-point attempts in a 115-104 loss to the Nets.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Kings, who was 27-55 a year ago, look like a different team in the early going, thanks in large part to its high-scoring backcourt of De'Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield, who are both averaging around 19 points per game. The Rockets has also looked like a different team this year … but definitely not in a good way.
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