Sixers defeat Nets, move atop East
PHILADELPHIA — 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 resteing the game had more of a preseason feel than a possible preview of the conference final.
Kyrie Irving scored 23 points in the first half — his eighth 20-point first half of the season — and finished with 37 points. Irving missed Tuesday’s game against Minnesota for personal reasons.
Harden is out with a strained right hamstring, and Durant got a night off after playing 27 minutes against the Timberwolves.
MAVS 114, GRIZZLIES 113
Luka Doncic hit a leaning, lunging 3-pointer as time expired to give Dallas a victory at Memphis.
Doncic ended the night with 29 points, while Kristaps Porzingis added 21.
Grayson Allen led the Grizzlies with 23 points, but the 90.6 percent free throw shooter missed a pair of foul shots with 2.2 seconds left.
BUCKS 130, T-WOLVES 105
Khris Middleton had 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in three quarters as Milwaukee breezed past host Minnesota.
Brook Lopez added 18 points and eight rebounds,
Anthony Edwards scored 24 points on 5-for-11 shooting from 3-point range for Minnesota, which has lost 11 of its past 15 games. The Bucks played without Giannis Antetokoumpo because of left knee soreness for the sixth straight game.
NUGGETS 123, HEAT 106
Nikola Jokic had 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his 15th triple-double of the season to lead Denver past visiting Miami.
Michael Porter Jr. added 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets in their first game without Jamal Murray, who is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
WARRIORS 147 THUNDER 109
Stephen Curry scored 25 of his 42 points in the third quarter, and Golden State ran away from host Oklahoma City.
Curry went 8-for-8 from the field and made all six of his 3-point attempts in the third quarter to post his high point total for a quarter this season. He was coming off a 53-point game against the Denver Nuggets on Monday.
CLIPPERS 100, PISTONS
Reggie Jackson sank a jumper with 2.3 seconds left against his former team, helping Los Angeles win at Detroit for its 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.
RAPTORS 117, SPURS 112
OG Anunoby scored 22 points, Pascal Siakam had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and shorthanded Toronto beat visiting San Antonio.
Raptors rookie Malachi Flynn had a big fourth quarter, scoring eight of his 16 points in the period and finishing with seven assists.
KNICKS 116, PELICANS 106
Julius Randle scored 32 points against his former team, and New York clamped down defensively on Zion Williamson for a victory at New Orleans.
Williamson mustered 25 points against a Knicks defense that packed the paint to stop him.
CAVS 103, HORNETS 90
Taurean Prince scored a season-high 25 points with six 3-pointers, and Cleveland handed Charlotte its third straight loss at home.
WIZARDS 123, KINGS 111
Russell Westbrook had 25 points, 11 assists and 15 rebounds for his sixth consecutive triple-double and Bradley Beal scored 31 as Washington won at Sacramento.
MAGIC 115, BULLS 106
James Ennis scored 22 points, Wendell Carter Jr. added 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Orlando snapped a six-game skid by beating host Chicago.