PHILADELPHIA — Brandon Bass scored a season-high 23 points off the bench as the Boston Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the winless Philadelphia 76ers 101-90 on Wednesday night.
Forward Jared Sullinger added 22 points, 11 coming in the last 5:55, for Boston (4-6). He also had nine rebounds.
Guard Marcus Thornton chipped in 13 points, and forward Jeff Green had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics. Guard Rajon Rondo finished with nine points and 13 assists.
Guard Tony Wroten had 21 points to lead Philadelphia (0-11), which is coached by South Portland native Brett Brown. The 76ers are mired in the team’s worst start since they lost their first 15 games in 1972-73. They went 9-73 that season, the worst full-season record in NBA history.
Bass, a veteran forward who began the night averaging 6.7 points a game, went 9-of-13 from the field. His previous season high was 12 points, and his career high is 27.
Wroten and forward Luc Mbah a Moute scored seven points apiece as the 76ers opened a 35-26 lead early in the second quarter. With Boston still down 39-32 moments later, the Celtics reeled off nine straight points, four of those by Bass, to go up 41-39.
By halftime the score was knotted at 46. Bass led the Celtics with 12 points in the half, while Mbah a Moute had 11 for the Sixers.
With the game still tied early in the third quarter, Bass and guard Avery Bradley combined for nine points in an 11-3 binge, giving Boston a 65-57 advantage. Boston was still up eight, 73-65, when Wroten nailed a 45-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the gap to five.
The Celtics pushed their lead to 82-70 on Thornton’s 3-pointer with 9:56 remaining. Philadelphia made one last push, cutting the gap to 84-79 on a jumper by center Henry Sims with 6:20 to play, but Sullinger packed 11 points into a 17-7 surge to go up 101-86 with 1:32 left.
NOTES: Sixers G Tony Wroten, the team’s leading scorer, came off the bench after starting the first 10 games. “He’s done nothing wrong,” coach Brown said. “He’s had a hell of a year.” Wroten was unconcerned about the change in roles, saying before tipoff, “Everyone wants to start, but it’s not going to be life or death. … Obviously, I want to start, but I have no problem coming off the bench. I’m just going to try to contribute.” Wroten averaged 13 points per game while starting just 16 of 72 games in 2013-14. … Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Philadelphia rookie C Nerlens Noel “has an absolute chance to be a difference-maker.” … Boston G Marcus Smart missed his fifth straight game with a sprained left ankle.
Mavericks 105, Wizards 102
WASHINGTON — Guard Monta Ellis scored 24 of 34 points in the first half and the Dallas Mavericks handed the Washington Wizards their first home loss of the season with a 105-102 victory on Wednesday night.
Forward Brandan Wright and guard J.J Barea each scored 14 points for the Mavericks (9-3). The highest scoring team in the league has won six straight and nine in a row over the Wizards.
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki had an injury scare but finished the game and scored 13 points.
Bradley Beal, the Wizards’ leading scorer in the playoffs last season, scored 21 points in 26 minutes in his season debut. The wing guard underwent left wrist surgery on Oct. 12 after suffering an injury against the Charlotte Hornets during Washington’s third preseason game.
Forward Paul Pierce and center Marcin Gortat each had 17 points for the Wizards (7-3). Washington had won its first four home games.
The teams traded one scoring play after another during the fourth quarter as the lead changed hands 11 times during a 5:35 stretch.
Forward Otto Porter and Beal hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Washington ahead 85-84 lead with 7:58 remaining, starting the back-and-forth action.
As Beal’s shot went through the basket, Nowitzki headed toward the rim. He attempted to avoid a collision and in the process went down with an apparent left leg injury without contact. The 36-year-old limped off and went to the locker room but returned with 3:27 remaining with a taped left ankle.
Barea’s jumper put Dallas up for good at 96-95 with 2:37. After an empty possession for Washington, the point guard drained a 3-pointer. Nowitzki also drained a shot from beyond the arc for a 102-97 lead with 1:20 left.
Guard John Wall had 11 points and 11 assists for the Wizards but was 5 of 17 from the field. He missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 26.9 seconds remaining. Dallas hit three of four free throws inside the final 18 seconds and 25 of 29 overall.
The Mavericks led 54-53 at halftime and 76-73 after three quarters. Dallas has won 20 of 25 against the Wizards and six straight in Washington
Ellis sizzled from the start, sinking his first five shots and six of seven in the first quarter for 18 points, including a stretch of 12 straight for Dallas. His teammates went 1 of 12 for five points in the quarter and 10 of 30 in the first half.