LOS ANGELES, California: Boston star Jayson Tatum was ejected in the third quarter but the Celtics clawed out a 125-119 NBA victory over shorthanded Philadelphia on Friday (Saturday in Manila) as the Orlando Magic notched a ninth straight win.

Tatum scored 21 points before he was tossed for arguing a foul call after tangling with Robert Covington with one second left in the third. Covington made the technical free throw and two free throws awarded in the wake of Tatum's flagrant foul to put the Sixers up, 97-95, going into the final period.