THURSDAY’S GAMES
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MAGIC 115, Nets 107: Elfrid Payton had 22 points, 11 assists and five rebounds to help Orlando beat Brooklyn. Aaron Gordon added 21 points, Jodie Meeks had 20, and Nikola Vucevic finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The Magic had lost five straight. Jeremy Lin led Brooklyn with 32 points. Bulls 102, 76ERS 90: Jimmy Butler had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and helped give Chicago’s playoff hopes a needed boost in the Bulls’ 102-90 victory over Philadelphia. Rajon Rondo sat out with a sprained right wrist and Dwyane Wade missed another game with a fractured right elbow. PACERS 104, Bucks 89: Paul George had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Indiana beat Milwaukee 104 to keep their playoff hopes alive. Point guard Jeff Teague added 15 points and seven assists for the Pacers, Thaddeus Young had 12 points and Lance Stephenson nine in his third game back. Wizards 106, KNICKS 103: Bradley Beal scored 25 points and made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 49 seconds left as Washington beat New York. John Wall added 24 points and eight assists for the Wizards, who blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter but recovered to improve to 48-31. HAWKS 123, Celtics 116: Paul Millsap scored 26 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 and Atlanta snapped a two-game skid with a victory over Boston. Isaiah Thomas scored 35 points, Jae Crowder had 24 and Marcus Smart 18 for the Celtics. They have dropped two in a row after winning five of seven. Timberwolves, TRAIL BLAZERS late: Portland hosts KarlAnthony Towns and Minnesota after losing to them Monday in Minnesota. On Tuesday the Trail Blazers lost 106-87 to the Utah Jazz. The Timberwolves were defeated by the Golden State Warriors 121-107 on Tuesday.