Celtics beat Raptors 95-94 to extend winning streak to 12

Al Horford scored a team-high 21 points in his return as the BostonCeltics played without Kyrie Irving but still managed to hang on fortheir 12th straight victory on Sunday.The Celtics had to dig deep into the depths of their roster, as theyhave done throughout their winning streak, to defeat the Toronto Raptors95-94 in front of a crowd of 18,600 at the Boston Garden. Horford missed two games due to a concussion and his return was welcomenews after all-star Irving suffered a facial fracture in Friday’s winover Charlotte when he was accidently struck in the mouth by a teammate.Horford led five Celtics in double figures on Sunday as Jaylen Brownscored 18 points, Terry Rozier scored 16, Marcus Smart 14 and rookieJayson Tatum delivered 13 points and seven rebounds. The Celtics are the first team in NBA history with a double-digit winstreak while having more than four rookies on their roster. Tatum is themost prominent of the six rookies contributing to the team’s remarkableearly season success.“It’s unbelievable ... we are playing good teams too,” Rozier said. The Raptors had a chance to win the game in the final seconds as DeMarDeRozan went one-on-one with Brown but his shot at the buzzer clangedoff the rim. Boston held on despite not scoring a basket over the final 86 seconds.Guard Irving could return soon as he spent the weekend visiting aspecialist to be fitted for a playing mask to protect the facialfracture which has been described as minor. Doctors say there is no signof a concussion, said coach Brad Stevens.“The good news is thus far that’s the only point of pain in his face or head or neck or anything else,” said Stevens.Irving scored a then-career-high 41 points the last time he wore a maskin December 2012 while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.DeRozan led the Raptors, who fell to 7-5 on the season, with 24 points for his seventh straight 20-point game.“They are the best team in the NBA right now and they are playingunbelievable,” Toronto’s Kyle Lowry said. “Everybody is picking upslack.” Lowry scored 19 points and dished out seven assists and CJ Miles was theonly other Raptor in double figures with 10 points.  Lowry passedAndrea Bargnani to move into fourth place on the Raptors’ all-timescoring list. Rockets romp Elsewhere, James Harden had 26 points and a season-high 15 assists tolead the Houston Rockets to a 118-95 rout of the Indiana Pacers. Harden hit nine of 21 shots from the field, fellow guard Eric Gordonchipped in with 21 points, and centre Clint Capela contributed 20 pointsand a team-high 17 rebounds.It was the sixth consecutive victory for the Rockets, who ledthroughout.  Victor Oladipo led the Pacers with 28 points on 11-of-17shooting from the field. In Detroit, Tobias Harris led five players in double figures with 25points to help Detroit beat Miami and finish unbeaten on the five-gamehomestand.Avery Bradley scored 24 points, Reggie Jackson had 17 points, rookieLuke Kennard scored a career-high 14 points, backup point guard IshSmith scored 11 points and Andre Drummond added 17 rebounds for thePistons.Hassan Whiteside had 20 points and 12 rebounds, Goran Dragic scored 18points, Dion Waiters had 16 points and Josh Richardson added 15 pointsto lead the Heat, who went 13 of 37 from 3-point range.Even without two starters, Oklahoma City made quick work of Dallas.Russell Westbrook - on his birthday - had 27 points, six rebounds andfive assists, and forward Paul George followed his best scoringperformance of the season with 37 points in the absence of center StevenAdams and forward Carmelo Anthony.Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks with 22 points, Yogi Ferrell added 18, and Dennis Smith Jr. scored 15 points.