Sixers fall to Clippers, but get good news on injured Embiid

Kawhi Leonard com- pleted two 3-point plays late in the game then made a block at the rim on the final possession to lead the visiting Los Angeles Clippers to a 108-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

Before the game, Sixers coach Nick Nurse had some news on center Joel Embiid, saying, “I think there's a very good likelihood that he will return before the playoffs."

Embiid, who has aver- aged 35.3 points and 11.5 rebounds this season, has missed 27 games after suffering a meniscus injury on Jan. 30 at Golden State that required surgery on Feb. 6.

Paul George had 22 points for Los Angeles while Leonard added 17. James Harden, in his return to Wells Fargo Center, had 16 points and 14 assists for the Clippers, who had lost six of nine.

Tyrese Maxey had 26 points for the 76ers while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 17 points, but was stuffed at the rim by Leonard on a play that Nurse felt should have resulted in a foul. Nurse stormed onto the court after the game to dispute the ending with officials and had to be restrained by his assistants.

LAKERS 136, GRIZZLIES 124 >> LeBron James had a tripledouble with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists, Rui Hachimura scored 32 points and visiting Los Angeles built a big lead in the third quarter and beat Memphis

Grizzlies. Coming off a 128124 double-overtime victory in Milwaukee without James on Tuesday night, the Lakers

won their fifth straight to pull within 2 1/2 games of idle Dallas for the sixth spot in the Western Conference.

Anthony Davis sat out against Memphis after having 34 points and 23 rebounds in a career-high 52 minutes against Milwaukee. He hyperextended his left knee late against the Bucks.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 26 points and 16 assists. TIMBERWOLVES 106, PISTONS 91 >> Naz Reid had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Jaden McDaniels added 20 points to help host Minnesota overcome a sluggish start to beat NBA-worst Detroit. Kyle Anderson scored 14 points off the bench for the Wolves (5022).

Cade Cunningham scored 32 points for the Pistons (1261), who lost their eighth straight.

KNICKS 145, RAPTORS 101 >> Miles McBride scored 29 points, Jalen Brunson had 26 and visiting New York never trailed in a win over slumping Toronto as the Knicks won for the seventh time in eight games. Gradey Dick scored a career-high 23 points for the Raptors, who lost their 12th in a row. HORNETS 118, CAVALIERS 111 >> Rookie Brandon Miller made seven 3-pointers and finished with 31 points, and host Charlotte beat Cleveland.

Miles Bridges and Tre Mann added 17 points and Grant Williams had 16 for the Hornets.

Jarrett Allen scored 24 points for the Cavs.