Curry comes back but gets hurt again

Stephen Curry returned from a six-game absence with a right ankle injury only to strain his left knee after scoring 29 points, and the beat-up, undermanned host Golden State Warriors held off the Atlanta Hawks 106-94.

Curry grimaced as he hopped around and made it to the bench on a tender left side with 3:09 left in third after JaVale McGee fell over and the center’s right elbow appeared to pound into Curry’s left knee.

The two-time MVP immediately sat in a chair and put his head down before going into the locker room. Curry overcame a slow start in his return, shooting 10 for 18.

Boston 105, at Portland 100: Marcus Morris scored 30 points and the shorthanded Celtics beat the Trail Blazers to deal Portland its second straight loss following a 13-game winning streak. Terry Rozier added 16 points for the Celtics, who are second in the Eastern Conference behind Toronto but have had to deal with recent injuries to Kyrie Irving and Jaylen Brown.

at Toronto 116, Brooklyn 112: Kyle Lowry had 25 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in his 10th tripledouble with Toronto, Jonas Valanciunas scored 23 points and the Raptors beat the Nets for the 12th straight time.

at San Antonio 124, Utah 120 (OT):

LaMarcus Aldridge had a careerhigh 45 points, helping the Spurs overcome Donovan Mitchell's 35-point performance for the Jazz. The Spurs won their sixth straight and beat the Jazz for the first time in four meetings this season.

Minnesota 108, at New York 104:

Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and the Timeberwolves clinched their first winning record in 13 years.

at Cleveland 120, Phoenix 95:

LeBron James scored 27 points in three quarters, Kevin Love added 20 and the Cavaliers welcomed back three players from injury, Tristan Thompson, Larry Nance Jr. and Rodney Hood.

at Oklahoma City 105, Miami 99:

Russell Westbrook scored 17 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to help the Thunder beat the Heat.

Milwaukee 118, at Chicago 105:

Shabazz Muhammad scored 21 points and the Bucks overcame a sluggish start to beat the Bulls. Milwaukee star swingman Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the game because of a sprained right ankle.

Denver 108, at Washington 100:

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray each scored 25 points and the Nuggets kept their playoff hopes alive.

at Indiana 109, Clippers 104