NBA: The Boston Celtics defeat the Miami Heat by a slim margin behind Jayson Tatum.

The Miami Heat mounted a comeback, but Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics held strong to win a fierce game 110-106.

With fewer than two minutes to go, Boston’s lead of fifteen points was reduced to two, but they persisted to increase their lead atop the Eastern Conference.

Tatum had 26 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in the game, falling just short of a triple-double.

Tyler Herro scored 24 points for Miami, while Kristaps Porzingis contributed 25 points.

After a violent altercation in the fourth quarter between Duncan Robinson of Miami and Jaylen Brown of Boston, Brown was called for a flagrant foul.

A three-pointer from Herro then got Miami – who shocked the Celtics in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals – back to within two at 106-104 with 1:49 remaining but Tatum and Porzingis sealed the win from the free-throw line.

Elsewhere, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander exploded for 38 points and Jalen Williams added 32 as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Sacramento Kings 127-113.

The win ended a two-game losing streak for the Thunder and moves them up to third in the Western Conference, half a game back from leaders the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Kings, for whom center Domantas Sabonis had a triple-double of 21 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists, stay in the play-in places as they sit seventh in the West.