Knicks lose again, skid at 18
Joel Embiid had 26 points, 14 rebounds and one flying leap over an award-winning actress into the crowd, and the Philadelphia 76ers handed the Knicks their 18th straight loss with a 126-111 victory last night in New York.
Tobias Harris scored 25 points and Ben Simmons had 18 for the 76ers, who bounced back from their 112-109 home loss to the Celtics on Tuesday, sending themselves into the All-Star break with a 37-21 record.
They had times last night when it appeared they’d win easily, and other moments when the game became much more difficult than necessary against the team with the NBA’s worst record.
Allonzo Trier scored 19 points and fellow rookie Mitchell Robinson had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks (10-46), who remain mired in the longest losing streak during one season in franchise history.
It was during the third Embiid gave the 76ers and plenty of people sitting courtside a scare when he tried to chase down a ball going to the sideline. He went flying just over the head of actress Regina King, who won Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes, and crashed into the MSG Network statistician working next to broadcaster Mike Breen. The statistician somehow stayed in the game.
Embiid also was fined $25,000 by the NBA for public criticism of referees that included profanity. His comments came at the end of his postgame interview following the 112-109 home loss to the Celtics.
Nets 148, Cavaliers 139 — D’Angelo Russell scored 14 of his 36 points in the third overtime and Brooklyn outlasted host Cleveland.
DeMarre Carroll’s desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer of the second overtime tied the game, and Nets carried the momentum into the third extra session. Jordan Clarkson scored a career-high 42 points for Cleveland.
Raptors 129, Wizards 120 — Pascal Siakam scored a career-high 44 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, OG Anunoby scored a career-best 22 points, and host Toronto beat Washington for its sixth straight win.
Serge Ibaka had 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Kyle Lowry had 14 points and 13 assists as the Raptors used a big third quarter to overcome a 12-point deficit and post their fifth straight victory over the struggling Wizards.
Bulls 122, Grizzlies 110 — Otto Porter Jr. scored a careerhigh 37 points on 16-for-20 shooting, Robin Lopez added season-high 25 points, and host Chicago beat Memphis.
Lauri Markkanen added 21 points as Chicago ended a franchise-record 11-game home losing streak.
Timberwolves 121, Rockets 111 — In Minneapolis, Jeff Teague scored 27 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 and Minnesota overcame James Harden’s 42 to beat Houston.
Harden had his 31st consecutive game with 30 or more points, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in league history.
Bucks 106, Pacers 97 — Giannis Antetokounmpo started fast and finished strong, picking up a triple-double (33 points, 19 rebounds, 11 assists) to help Milwaukee rally past Indiana in Indianapolis.
Elsewhere in the NBA — Center Enes Kanter has joined the Portland Trail Blazers. Kanter was waived by the Knicks along with Wesley Matthews following the trade deadline.