MIAMI (AFP) — Jaylen Brown scored 36 points as the Boston Celtics returned to the top of the Eastern Conference standings with a 121-109 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in National Basketball Association action on Friday.

The Celtics (23-10) moved above Milwaukee (22-10) into first place after the Bucks fell to a 118-110 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

Brown scored 23 of his 36 in the fourth quarter as Boston picked up just their second win in seven games, outscoring the Timberwolves 33-23 in the last quarter.

Jayson Tatum scored 30 points for the Celtics, the 17th time he and Brown have both scored 30 or more in the same game.

Brown had missed his first seven 3-point attempts and the momentum shifted when he sank three early in the fourth.
"You have just got to play through it," Brown said.

"This game will take you high and then take you low. I stayed with it and I was able to get over the hump," he added.

"It was super important to get this win, we have been in a little rut, it felt good to get back on the winning side."

The top spot is up for grabs again on Sunday when the Celtics host the Bucks, who will be looking to bounce back from their loss at Brooklyn.

Kevin Durant scored 24 points and Brooklyn managed to stop Milwaukee's star Giannis Antetokounmpo from scoring in the fourth quarter.