LOS ANGELES, California — The NBA champion Boston Celtics, fueled by 32 points from Jayson Tatum, bounced back from an overtime defeat with a gritty 124-109 victory over the Hornets in Charlotte on Friday (Saturday in Manila).

Tatum added 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season, and Jaylen Brown scored 25 points with six rebounds and five assists in a physical game that saw tensions erupt in the fourth quarter when former Celtic Grant Williams sent Tatum sprawling with a shoulder-to-shoulder check.

Williams was ejected, but Brown and others were clearly angered.

Less than a minute later, LaMelo ball was assessed a flagrant foul for crowding in under Tatum as the Celtics star attempted a three-pointer, and Charlotte's Miles Bridges was ejected in the final minutes for punching the ball.

It all could make for fireworks when the teams face off again on Saturday, but Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla wasn't fazed.

"I loved it," said Mazzulla, who received a technical foul as did his Hornets counterpart Charles Lee. "It was tremendous."

"Physical game, guys handled it well, great poise, great execution," added Mazzulla, who was particularly pleased with Tatum's response to the foul by Williams.

"I'm glad he's fine," Mazzulla said. "What I liked most is how he jumped right up, didn't lay around... went to the free-throw line and did his business."

In Toronto, the Los Angeles Lakers let a 26-point lead dwindle to single digits but held on to snap a two-game losing streak with a 131-125 victory over the Raptors.

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