Embiid, 76ers continue to roll, crush Magic
PHILADELPHIA — J.J. Redick hit eight 3-pointers and scored 29 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers cruised without the injured Ben Simmons to a 130-111 victory over the skidding Orlando Magic on Saturday.
Joel Embiid shook off a cold to score 18 points and grab 14 rebounds and T.J. McConnell had 15 points and 13 assists filling in at point guard for Simmons, who missed his first game of the season with swelling in his left elbow.
Redick hit six first-half 3s, four coming in the final 3:10 of the second quarter, as the Sixers built a 70-55 halftime lead.
Elfrid Payton had 22 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in another miserable defensive performance for the Magic, who have lost eight straight.
The Sixers shot 51 percent in winning their third straight game to move to 11-7 as they try to finally turn the corner from a lengthy rebuild.
Redick, drafted 11th overall by the Magic in 2006, was part of a humming offense without their star rookie. Redick hit 10 of 18 shots, 12 of them 3-point attempts.
After missing his first NBA season with a broken right foot, Simmons had played in the Sixers’ first 17 games and been one of the league’s top rookies. The 6-foot-10 point guard is averaging 18.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists. SPURS 106, HORNETS 86:
Pau Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge each had 17 points and seven rebounds, and San Antonio Spurs held Charlotte to 37 percent shooting in a road victory. Kemba Walker, who left the game briefly in the third quarter with a left shoulder injury, returned to finish with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting.
TRAIL BLAZERS 108, WIZARDS 105: C.J. McCollum scored 26 points, including seven straight during a 10-0 game-closing run, and Portland overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat shorthanded Washington on the road. Damian Lillard scored 29 points for Portland. ROCKETS 117, ROCKETS 102: James Harden had 37 points and 10 assists as Houston rallied from an early deficit to beat New York at home. The Rockets erased New York’s early 22-point lead by making 18 3-pointers and getting 44 points from their bench, led by 17 from Ryan Anderson. New York starters Kristaps Porzingis and Enes Kanter sat out the game because of back ailments.
CELTICS 108, PACERS 98: Kyrie Irving scored 25 points and Al Horford added 21 to lead Boston to a victory over Indiana on the road. Boston outscored Indiana 37-16 in the third quarter to turn a nine-point deficit into an 82-70 lead entering the final quarter. Horford had 12 points during a period that saw Indiana record two three-minute scoring droughts. The Pacers were led by Myles Turner, who had 19 points but spent much of the night in foul trouble.
WARRIORS 110, PELICANS 95: Stephen Curry bounced back after an 0-for-10 start and scored 14 of his 27 points in the third quarter, Klay Thompson added 24 points and Golden State held on to beat New Orleans at home. Golden State won its second in two nights without NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant. Durant sat out for the third time in four games with a sprained left ankle. Anthony Davis had 30 points and 15 rebounds for New Orleans. MAVERICKS 97, THUNDER 81: Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-high 19 points, rookie Dennis Smith held his own against Russell Westbrook and Dallas beat Oklahoma City at home. Smith finished with 15 points and four assists while Westbrook had 28 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists but just 12 points after a dominant first quarter.
HORNETS’ HOWARD FINED: The Charlotte Hornets’ Dwight Howard was fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture toward Cleveland fans. Howard made the gesture in the second quarter of the Hornets’ 100-99 loss to the Cavaliers on Friday night. He was captured on video mimicking a sexual act. WIZARDS’ WALL INJURED: Washington Wizards guard John Wall is expected to miss about two weeks with inflammation in his left knee, the team announced. Wall, 27, underwent an MRI, coach Scott Brooks revealed Friday following the day’s practice session, which the point guard missed.