Porzingis scores 41 in Wizards’ victory
>> Kristaps Porzingis scored a careerhigh 41 points, including 29 in the first half, and the Washington Wizards beat Minnesota 142-127 on Monday night after Timberwolves star Karl-AnthonyTowns was helped off the court in the third quarter with a right leg injury.
Towns grabbed at his leg and went down near midcourt. He was helped off without putting weight on the leg, and the team announced that he had a right calf strain.
Kyle Kuzma scored 23 points for the Wizards and Bradley Beal added 22. NETS 109, MAGIC 102 >> Kevin Durant scored a seasonhigh 45 points and Brooklyn beat Orlando to get back to .500.
Durant shot 19 of 24 from the field and added seven rebounds and five assists, playing 39 minutes on the second night of back-to-back games. 76ERS 104, HAWKS 101 >> Joel Embiid sank the go-ahead 14-footer with 18.6 seconds left and scored 30 points in his return from a sprained left foot as Philadelphia beat Atlanta.
Embiid scored seven points in the final minute as the 76ers rallied. He had missed the previous four games with a sprained left foot.
CELTICS 140, HORNETS 105 >> Jayson Tatum scored 35 points, Marcus Smart had 22 points and a careerhigh 15 assists, and Boston cruised past Charlotte.
RAPTORS 100, CAVALIERS 88 >> Pascal Siakam had 18 points and 11 rebounds in his return from injury, O.G. Anunoby scored 20 and Toronto beat Cleveland.
PELICANS 105, THUNDER 101 >> Zion Williamson scored 23 points, matched his career high with eight assists and converted a go-ahead three-point play with 44 seconds left to lift shorthanded New Orleans past Oklahoma City.
BULLS 114, JAZZ 107 >> DeMar DeRozan had 26 points and six assists to lead Chicago to a victory over Utah.
NUGGETS 129, ROCKETS 113 >> Nikola Jokic had 32 points and 12 rebounds, Jamal Murray scored a seasonhigh 31 and Denver defeated Houston.