Simmons, Embiid key 76ers’ win
Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid almost outproduced Detroit in the first half and sparked the 76ers to a mammoth lead even they couldn’t blow in a 114-78 romp over the Pistons last night in Philadelphia.
Embiid had 23 points and nine rebounds. Simmons had 19 points and nine assists to lead the Sixers to their fourth straight win, which moved them back to .500.
With 2 minutes left in the first half, Embiid and Simmons had combined for 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting. The Pistons had 26 points on 11-of-38 shooting.
The 76ers have a bad habit of blowing double-digit leads that crushed their push toward a more respectable spot in the standings. They wasted an 18-point lead in a loss to Portland. The Sixers turned a 22-point edge into a loss against Toronto. And they led by 16 points before Sacramento beat them.
The Sixers opened the game on a 15-2 run and, unlike their December collapses, they never let this one get close. They led 97-61 through three.
Tobias Harris led the Pistons with 14 points.
The Sixers play Thursday against the Celts in London. Spurs 103, Suns 89 — Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili each scored 21 points and San Antonio beat visiting Phoenix. It was the Spurs’ ninth straight win at home over the Suns.
Ginobili joined Vince Carter as the only 40-year-old players to score 20 points off the bench.
The Spurs were without starters LaMarcus Aldridge, who sat out for rest, and an injured Danny Green.
Bulls 127, Mavericks 124 — Kris Dunn scored a careerhigh 32 points, Justin Holiday added 23 and Chicago held off a frantic rally by host Dallas.
Rookie Lauri Markkanen had 16 with an dunk during a surge that put the Bulls up 10 with 1:08 to play.
Heat 107, Knicks 103 — Wayne Ellington scored 24 points, Goran Dragic added 19 and host Miami survived a back-and-forth flurry in the final minutes to beat New York in overtime.
The Heat set a franchise record by taking 42 3-pointers, and Ellington had another team all-time mark by attempting 16.
Nuggets 99, Jazz 91 — Trey Lyles scored a career-high 26 points, Jamal Murray also had 26 points and Denver beat visiting Utah.
Lyles also grabbed seven rebounds. He averaged 21 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two home games against his former team to help the Nuggets split the season series with the Jazz.
Raptors 129, Bucks 110 — Jonas Valanciunas scored all of his 20 points in the decisive third quarter and Toronto beat host Milwaukee for the second time this week.
Toronto outscored Milwaukee 43-19 in the third quar- ter to win its fourth consecutive game. The Raptors have won 10-of-12.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points for the Bucks. Wizards 102, Grizzlies 100 — Bradley Beal scored 34 points, John Wall added 25 points and nine assists, and visiting Washington survived a late Memphis rally for a victory.
Markieff Morris, who had 12 points and matched his career high with 17 rebounds, converted a pair of free throws with 3 seconds left to provide the winning margin. Washington has won four straight.