SIXERS TOPPLE BUCKS DESPITE GIANNIS’ 52 PTS

Joel Embiid scored 40 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the visiting Philadelphia 76ers past the Milwaukee Bucks 130-125 on Sunday.

It was Embiid’s 52nd double-double and the 25th time he has scored at least 30 points and swept 10 rebounds in a game. He scored 18 points alone in the fourth quarter.

Jimmy Butler had 27 and JJ Redick 19 for the Sixers, who won their fourth in a row and officially clinched a playoff spot.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was terrific for the Bucks with a career-high 52 points to go along with 16 rebounds and seven assists. Khris Middleton added 19 points.

In Houston, Chris Paul, Clint Capela and James Harden recorded double-doubles, and Houston turned a blistering third-quarter shooting display into a 117-102 victory over Minnesota.

Paul paired 25 points with 10 assists and matched his single-game high of six 3-pointers, while Capela recorded 20 points and 13 rebounds in grappling with Timberwolves All-Star center Karl Anthony Towns (22 points, 10 rebounds, six assists).

In New York, Emmanuel Mudiay highlighted his 28-point performance with a pair of late free throws as NBA-worst New York erased an 11-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to knock off visiting Los Angeles 124-123.

Damyean Dotson scored 25 points and Kevin Knox chipped in 19 for the Knicks, who benefited from a seasonhigh 41-point first quarter to post their first win since a 108-103 victory against Orlando on Feb. 26.

LeBron James scored 33 points after sitting out Friday’s 111-97 setback versus Detroit for what the team called “load management” connected to the groin injury that sidelined him for 17 games earlier this season.