NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving had 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists Saturday night, leading the Boston Celtics over the New York Knicks 121-112 for their second victory in two nights since the All-Star break.

Irving scored 15 points in a dazzling third quarter, then helped the Celtics finish it off with his passing in the fourth, highlighted by a behind-the-back dish to Jaylen Brown for a dunk that made it 115-106.

Brown had 24 points for the Celtics, who went into the break with three straight losses but came back with a victory Friday night at Detroit.

Reserve Trey Burke scored 26 points for the second straight game for the Knicks, but they couldn’t win this one after beating Orlando on Thursday to end an eight-game skid.

Irving was just 1 of 6 behind the arc in the first half but showed no lack of confidence in the third period. He scored 14 straight Boston points, hitting four 3-pointers and pushing the ball right at the Knicks.

His last 3-pointer in that spurt gave the Celtics a 10-point lead, but the Knicks chipped away while he rested and it was a two-point game by the time he returned with 8:14 remaining.

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Irving soon made another 3 and passed to Al Horford for a 3 that pushed the lead back to double digits.

Horford finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

76ERS 116, MAGIC 105: Joel Embiid scored 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as Philadelphia cruised to a win on the road.

HEAT 115, GRIZZLIES 89: Tyler Johnson scored 23 points to lead six players in double figures, and Miami won at home to stop a three-game slide.

NOTES

TIMBERWOLVES: An MRI revealed All-Star Jimmy Butler has a meniscus injury in his right knee, the team announced Saturday.

Butler was hurt on Friday at Houston in the third quarter, needing assistance to leave the court.


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