Kristaps Porzingis scored 24 points in his return from an eight-game absence with an illness, getting 14 in the fourth quarter to help the visiting Boston Celtics hold off the Brooklyn Nets 115-113 on Saturday night.

Payton Pritchard added 22 points and Jayson Tatum had 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Celtics, who seemed headed for an easy night after a 25-7 run to open the second quarter gave them a 21-point lead. The Nets cut it to two in the fourth quarter before Porzingis made some clutch plays in his first game since Feb. 26.

The Celtics rested Derrick White and Al Horford a night after winning in Miami and clinching a playoff spot, then lost Jaylen Brown in the second half after he left with back spasms.

Pritchard, who set the NBA single-season record during the game with his 219th 3-pointer off the bench, made three free throws in the closing seconds.

Cam Johnson scored 23 points and Keon Johnson had 21 for the Nets, who lost for the 10th time in 11 games.

THUNDER 113, PISTONS 107 >> Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 48 points and visiting Oklahoma City beat Detroit.

Gilgeous-Alexander shot 17 of 26 from the floor, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and added six assists and three steals for the Thunder, who won for the ninth time in 10 games.

The Pistons’ Cade Cunningham matched a season low with 11 points on 5-of-18 shooting before being ejected for arguing calls late in the third quarter.

Tobias Harris led Detroit with 18 points, while reserve Dennis Schroder had 17 points and 11 assists in place of Cunningham.

Detroit trailed 91-75 until Malik Beasley’s buzzer-beating layup at the end of the third quarter. His 3-pointer pulled the Pistons within 98-97 with 4:16 left.

NETS’ THOMAS OUT FOR SEASON >> Cam Thomas, the Brooklyn Nets’ leading scorer, is expected to miss the rest of the season with a strained left hamstring.

The Nets said Saturday that Thomas was injured during their loss at Chicago on Thursday, when he had his first career double-double, getting 24 points and a career-best 10 assists. The team said it was unlikely he could appropriately recover with the amount of time left in the season.

Thomas averaged 24 points, with a team-high six 30-point games, but was limited to just 25 appearances. He missed 37 games with an injury to the hamstring after initially hurting it in November.

FORMER SUPERSONIC WATTS DIES AT 73 >> Donald “Slick” Watts, a fan favorite for the SuperSonics and later a beloved teacher and coach in Seattle, has died. He was 73.

Watts’ son Donald, who played for Washington, announced his father’s death Saturday on social media, writing: “You did so much for so many of us. It was an honor call you pops.” Watts had been in poor health following a stroke in 2021.

Watts was signed by coach Bill Russell to play for the Sonics in 1973 as an undrafted rookie. He was with Seattle for less that five years, but became a fixture known for his broad smile, bald head and crooked headbands. He led the league in steals in the 1975-76 season.

He later played for the New Orleans Jazz and the Houston Rockets but made Seattle his home following his career and frequently attended Sonics events, as well as Washington and Seattle Storm games.

“We are saddened by the passing of Sonics icon Slick Watts,” the Storm posted to social media. “Slick was a champion for the Storm and a beloved member of the Seattle community.”