Embiid, 76ers beat Nets team missing stars

Joel Embiid had 39 points and 13 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers beat Brooklyn 123-117 on Wednesday night in an anticipated matchup that fizzled with the Nets missing their biggest stars.

The Sixers (38-17) moved into first place in the Eastern Conference in a game played without James Harden, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge. With the Nets standouts hurt or just rested, the game had more of a preseason feel than a possible preview of the conference final this summer.

No matter, the Sixers moved back atop the standings and have the No. 1 seed in sight with just 17 games left this season.

The Sixers improved to 21-5 at home.

CLIPPERS 100, PISTONS 98 >> Reggie Jackson sank a jumper with 2.3 seconds left against his former team at Detroit, giving the Clippers their seventh straight victory. The Clippers rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter despite playing without several key players. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Serge Ibaka, Patrick Beverley and Marcus Morris were all out for Los Angeles.

BUCKS 130, TIMBERWOLVES 105 >> Khris Middleton had 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in three quarters, as Milwaukee breezed to a victory at Minnesota.

CAVALIERS 103, HORNETS 90 >> Taurean Prince scored a season-high 25 points with six 3-pointers, Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds in his first action since March 26 and Cleveland Charlotte its third straight loss at home.

KNICKS 116, PELICANS 106 >> Julius Randle scored 32 points against his former team and New York clamped down defensively on Zion Williamson, holding him to 25 points.

MAGIC 115, BULLS 106 >> James Ennis scored 22 points, Wendell Carter Jr. added 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Orlando snapped a six-game losing streak with a win at Chicago.

RAPTORS 117, SPURS 112 >> OG Anunoby scored 22 points, Pascal Siakam had 20 points and 11 rebounds and shorthanded Toronto beat San Antonio.