Walker stays hot to lead Hornets to a win over Celtics

Embiid, Simmons shine for Philadelphia; Davis helps Pelicans to 3rd straight victory

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kemba Walker scored 43 points, giving him 103 in his last two games, and the Charlotte Hornets battled back to beat the Boston Celtics 117-112 on Monday night.

Walker followed up his NBA season-best 60-point effort in an overtime loss to the 76ers on Saturday night with another spectacular performance, scoring 21 in the fourth quarter and making 14 of 25 shots, including seven more 3-pointers.

Walker outdueled Boston’s Kyrie Irving, who finished with 27 points and 11 assists.

Jeremy Lamb had 18 points and Willy Hernangomez added 14 as the Hornets beat the Celtics for the first time in eight tries.

76ERS 119, SUNS 114: In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid scored 19 of his 33 points after halftime and added 17 rebounds to help Philadelphia beat Phoenix.

Ben Simmons added 19 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for Philadelphia, which won its third straight while improving to 9-0 at home, remaining the only team in the league unbeaten at home. The 76ers play five of their next six in Philadelphia.

Devin Booker had 37 points and eight assists for the Suns, who started a four-game road trip with their sixth loss in seven games. PELICANS 140, SPURS 126: In New Orleans, Anthony Davis had 29 points and nine rebounds, Julius Randle added 21 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in 25 minutes, and New Orleans won its third straight. KINGS 117, THUNDER 113: In Sacramento, Calif., Buddy Hield made three consecutive 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter and scored 25 points, Marvin Bagley III had his first career double-double and Sacramento beat Oklahoma City to spoil Russell Westbrook’s return. BUCKS 104, NUGGETS 98: In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points and Eric Bledsoe added 22, including two late 3-pointers, as Milwaukee overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to down Denver. PISTONS 113, CAVALIERS 102: In Detroit, Andre Drummond had 23 points and 16 rebounds, and Detroit cruised over Cleveland.

GRIZZLIES 98, MAVERICKS 88: In Memphis, Tenn., Mike Conley scored 28 points, Marc Gasol had 17 points and 15 rebounds and Memphis broke open a close game in the fourth quarter.

PACERS 121, JAZZ 94: In Indianapolis, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 21 points, Domantas Sabonis nearly had a triple-double and Indiana beat Utah.

CLIPPERS 127, HAWKS 119: In Atlanta, Montrezl Harrell had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Lou Williams added 16 points and a season-high 11 assists, and Los Angeles rallied past struggling Atlanta to win its fifth straight game.