NBA news and highlights: Kyrie Irving leads Celtics, 76ers stay perfect at home, Anthony Davis' monster outing

James McKern

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NBA news and highlights: Kyrie Irving leads Celtics, 76ers stay perfect at home, Anthony Davis' monster outing image

Friday produced plenty of quality NBA action. The eight-games on schedule showed of a heap of key matchups and even bigger highlights. 

If you missed anything, we've got you covered with the top storylines, best fantasy performers and can't-miss highlights.

Top Storylines

Celtics and Raptors live up to the hype

The two teams expected to battle it out for the Eastern Conference crown faced off for the second time this season and the meeting didn't disappoint.

A back and forth affair with 11 ties and nine lead changes throughout had it going down to the wire inside the TD Garden.

Toronto entered the fourth quarter holding the slender four-point lead, but they simply had no answer for Kyrie Irving.


The Celtics' master point guard continued to slice through the defence as he put the team on his back and forced the game into overtime.

It was in the overtime period that Boston flexed their muscles and pulled away to claim the win in front of their home crowd.

The teams now won't meet again until mid-January and towards the end of February before a potential meeting deep in the playoffs.

Anthony Davis goes superhuman

The New York Knicks jumped out of the gate and had the New Orleans Pelicans on the ropes in front of their home crowd.

Then Anthony Davis clicked into gear and put his team on his back.

After an already impressive start to the season, Davis erupted to the tune of 43 points, 17 rebounds and five assists.


Jrue Holiday stepped up again in a big way with 24 points and 10 assists as the Pelicans moved to 8-7 on the season.

The Pelicans are getting set to head off on a tough three-game stretch where they'll take on the Nuggets, Spurs and 76ers.

Childhood dreams come true

After growing up together in Melbourne, Australia, Ben Simmons and Dante Exum had always dreamed of playing alongside one another on the NBA stage.

It became reality on Friday as the duo faced off for the first time in their NBA careers.

Injuries had ruined their chances of playing earlier on, but Friday's clash will be the first of many to come.

Simmons and his 76ers managed to walk away with the victory, handing the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year bragging rights.

Talking after the game to reporters, Exum said that he and Simmons chatted throughout the game with Simmons telling him "this is what we dreamed of."


Best Fantasy Performers

Kyrie Irving — 43 points (18-26 FG), 11 assists

Anthony Davis — 43 points (16-25 FG), 17 rebounds, 5 assists

Kawhi Leonard — 31 points (11-25 FG), 15 rebounds

Jimmy Butler — 28 points (12-15 FG), 7 assists

Donovan Mitchell — 31 points (13-35 FG), 4 steals

Khris Middleton — 23 points (9-15 FG), 10 rebounds, 8 assists

Can't-Miss Highlights

All out hustle from Trier:


That's how you run an ATO play:


Clear the way, Ben's coming through:


Kyrie Irving with the shake and bake:


Oh my goodness, Thon!


Box Scores

Raptors 116, Celtics 123 | Heat 91, Pacers 99 | Jazz 107, 76ers 113

Nets 115, Wizards 104 | Kings 104, Grizzlies 112 | Blazers 96, Wolves 112

Knicks 124, Pelicans 129 | Bulls 104, Bucks 123

James McKern