Antetokounmpo, Bucks overwhelm 76ers

Davis returns for Lakers, who fall to Mavericks

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points and Khris Middleton had 24 as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 124-117 on Thursday night in a matchup of two of the Eastern Conference’s top teams.

Bobby Portis added a season-high 23 points as the Bucks ended a five-game home losing streak.

Milwaukee never trailed and led by as many as 21 to defeat Philadelphia for the fourth consecutive time.

Joel Embiid scored 24 points for the Sixers.

MAVERICKS 115, LAKERS 110: In Dallas, Luka Doncic scored 30 points, leading Dallas to a victory over the Lakers in the return of Los Angeles star Anthony Davis from a 30-game injury absence.

Davis was rusty in his first game since Feb. 14 because of right calf and heel issues, scoring four points on 2-of10 shooting while limited to 17 minutes in the first half only. The absence was the longest of the eight-time All-Star’s career.

The Mavericks lost their big man in the third quarter when Kristaps Porzingis sprained his left ankle and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Porzingis scored 19 points before limping to the bench and eventually off the court after his latest injury.

CELTICS 99, SUNS 86: In Boston, Kemba Walker matched his season high with 32 points and the Celtics rolled to a victory over Phoenix.

Chris Paul had 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Suns.

PELICANS 135, MAGIC 100: In Orlando, Florida, Zion Williamson scored 23 points in 23 minutes in his first game against Orlando, and New Orleans beat the Magic to snap a four-game losing streak.

Brandon Ingram added 29 points and the Pelicans got double-figure scoring from six players. Eric Bledsoe chipped in 15 points by hitting five 3-pointers. Lonzo Ball had 12 assists.

SPURS 106, PISTONS 91: In San Antonio, Texas, Derrick White had 26 points, Jakob Poeltl added 17 points and 11 rebounds and San Antonio beat Detroit to snap a five-game home losing streak.

Josh Jackson had 29 points to lead Detroit.

BULLS 108, HORNETS 91: In Chicago, Nikola Vucevic scored 18 points and matched a season high with 16 rebounds, Coby White and Thaddeus Young scored 18 apiece, and Chicago beat struggling Charlotte.

HAWKS: Atlanta point guard Trae Young will miss home games against Miami on Friday and Milwaukee on Sunday because of a sprained left ankle.