Jaylen Brown scored 21 points, and the Celtics pounded the Bulls 105-89 on Monday night in Chicago even though All-Star guard Kyrie Irving sat out because of a sore left knee, which he aggravated Saturday in Houston.

The Celtics took control right from the start and led by as many as 37 en route to their fifth win in six games. Jayson Tatum added 14 points for the Celtics, while Al Horford and Terry Rozier scored 13 apiece.

F LeBron James scored 31 points in three quarters and F Larry Nance Jr. had career highs of 22 points and 15 rebounds as the Cavaliers handed the Pistons their ninth straight road defeat, 112-90. ... F Bojan Bogdanovic tied his season high with 29 points and grabbed a key jump ball late to lift the Pacers over the Bucks 92-89. ... C Hassan Whiteside had 24 points and 14 rebounds, G Goran Dragic scored 17 points and the Heat moved into the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference by topping the Suns 125-103. ... Lakers F Brandon Ingram will be out for at least a week with a left groin strain. AP