NBA Wrap: Aron Baynes matches career high with 21 points in Boston’s 10th straight victory

NBA WRAP: While Ben Simmons is hogging all the headlines, another Aussie is in career-best form and making huge waves for the NBA’s leading team.

Boston Celtics' Aron Baynes (46) celebrates during the first quarter against the LA Lakers.

ARON Baynes has produced the biggest performance of his NBA career to lead the Boston Celtics to a tenth straight victory.

The Boomers big man has consistently impressed since the start of the season, the former Detroit star emerging as one of the pick-ups of the off-season.

But he took things to a new level in Thursday’s (AEDT) 107-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, leading all scorers — on a star-studded court including megastar Kyrie Irving and rookie sensation Lonzo Ball — with 21 points.

BEN SIMMONS’ INCREDIBLE SHAQ FEAT, 35-YEAR FIRST

Baynes matched the biggest pointscoring haul of his career, equalling a 21-point outing for the Pistons against Brooklyn last year, and also added eight rebounds and three assists in his 23 minutes on court.

“We have such great creators on this team,” Baynes said of his performance.

“I just found myself in the right position. I was just trying to make the right play, and I’m trying to finish as best I could.

“It’s a compliment to the other guys on the team getting me the ball in great position.”

Aron Baynes' 21 points matches his career high (21, 3/19/16 vs. BKN). This is the third time Baynes has scored at least 20 points in his NBA career (307 games)

— Celtics Stats (@Celtics_Stats) November 9, 2017

Okaaaaaay Bangers!!! 👏🏾@aronbaynes #fearthemanbun

— Patrick Mills (@Patty_Mills) November 9, 2017

We’re seeing Washington State Aron Baynes tonight. Actually, I’m not sure he went for 18 and 7 too often when he was in college.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) November 9, 2017

BAYNES is looking 1st TEAM NBA

— Dave Miller (@coachdavemiller) November 9, 2017

Good job by Marc Fleisher the agent for Aron Baynes. Found the right fit/role in Boston after opting out of $6.5M in Detroit. 1 year contract could parlay into a nice raise come July.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 9, 2017

Baynes, who earned a start in place of the injured Al Horford, combined beautifully with Irving and Boston’s star recruit sung the Aussie’s praises post-game.

“He did a great job on Brook Lopez. It was tough for Brook to be out here,” Irving said of Baynes.

“We’re starting to rebound and understanding the Baynes is a bruiser down low. We’ve got to feed him the ball.”

Baynes also got one over fellow Australian centre Bogut, who endured a miserable night.

Bogut spent just six minutes on court, finishing with a plus/minus of -10 in a performance that left many questioning his fitness, as well as the Lakers’ call to throw him into the game ahead of the in-form Julius Randle.

I'm not really sure what Bogut is doing out here.

— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) November 9, 2017

This game completely changed as soon as Corey Brewer and Andrew Bogut were the first players to come off the bench.

— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) November 9, 2017

Lakers signing Bogut was always a very weird move

— Josh Lloyd (@redrock_bball) November 9, 2017

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AROUND THE LEAGUE

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 125 — MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 101

Klay Thompson scored 28 points with six 3-pointers, Stephen Curry had 22 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, and Golden State beat Minnesota for its fifth straight win.

Even without injured Kevin Durant, the defending champs began to look like their dominant old selves.

Draymond Green posted another all-round balanced performance with seven points, six rebounds, six assists and two blocks for the Warriors, who played without NBA Finals MVP Durant as he nursed a bruised left thigh. Andre Iguodala started in place of Durant, and the 2015 Finals MVP scored a season-high 11 points.

Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 16 points and 12 rebounds as the Timberwolves had their five-game winning streak snapped.

DETROIT PISTONS 114 — INDIANA PACERS 97

Tobias Harris scored 23 points and the first-place Detroit Pistons won for the sixth time in seven games, beating the Indiana Pacers 114-97.

Andre Drummond added 14 points and 21 rebounds for the Pistons, who lead Cleveland by three games in the Central Division. Indiana lost its fourth straight.

Victor Oladipo led the Pacers with 21 points, but Indiana has allowed at least 100 points in 10 of 12 games this season. The Pacers were without injured big man Domantas Sabonis.

Detroit led 59-52 at halftime, and after the Pacers fought back to tie the game at 65, the Pistons went on a 13-0 run to take control. Harris made a 3-pointer to put Detroit ahead by 11, and Drummond capped that streak with a put back that he made despite being hit in the face by Indiana’s Thaddeus Young. Drummond was momentarily shaken up but played on.

It was 82-75 after three quarters, then the Pistons scored eight straight points to start the fourth, including 3-pointers by Reggie Bullock and Anthony Tolliver.

Andre Drummond dunks in the second half against the Indiana Pacers.

ORLANDO MAGIC 112 — NEW YORK KNICKS 99

Nikola Vucevic scored 24 points and Evan Fournier added 23 to help Orlando beat New York.

Jonathon Simmons scored 15 of his 16 points in the second half. He had 11 straight points early in the fourth quarter to push the Magic’s lead back to double figures.

The Magic, benefiting from the return of starting point guard Elfrid Payton, snapped a two-game losing streak. New York, playing without scoring Kristaps Porzingis (ankle and elbow injuries), had its three-game winning streak come to an end. Tim Hardaway Jr. led New York with 26 points.

PHOENIX SUNS 115 — MIAMI HEAT 126

Former Phoenix guard Goran Dragic scored a season-high 29 points in the Miami Heat’s 126-115 victory over the Suns on Wednesday night. The Heat made 12 3-pointers, shot 53.1 percent overall and never trailed. Hassan Whiteside added 23 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots for Miami. Devin Booker led Phoenix with 30 points.

Originally published as NBA Wrap: Aron Baynes matches career high with 21 points in Boston’s 10th straight victory