Embiid scores 27, leads Sixers past the Knicks
NEW YORK » Joel Embiid had
27 points and 17 rebounds, James Ennis III scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, and the Philadelphia 76ers overcame a sluggish start and beat the New York Knicks 101-95 Friday night.
Tobias Harris scored 19, and Ben Simmons chipped in 16 points, including a game-sealing steal and dunk late in the fourth quarter for the 76ers, who have won two straight and six of seven.
Julius Randle had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Marcus Morris Sr. scored 20 points for the Knicks, who have lost a season-high five straight.
The 76ers were playing without starters Al Horford (rest) and Josh Richardson (right hamstring injury) and it showed in the first half as their offense struggled. Philadelphia shot 13 for 38 from the field, including 2 for 18 behind the 3-point line.
But the Sixers rallied from a 51-39 halftime deficit by outscoring the Knicks 1611 over the final seven minutes of the third quarter for a 70-68 lead entering the final quarter. The Knicks offense sputtered, going 0 for
9 with two turnovers down the stretch in the third.
Philadelphia went on a
9-3 run, capped by former Knick Trey Burke’s basket that made it 79-73.
Harris increased the
76ers’ lead 94-89 with 1:19 left in regulation, forcing a Knicks timeout.
On the ensuing possession, Simmons stole an inbound pass from Frank Ntilikina and dunked to extend the lead 96-89.
The Knicks jumped out to a 23-9 lead on consecutive baskets from Barrett in the opening period. A 3-pointer from reserve Damyean Dotson made it 31-18 to close out the first.
SPURS 107, CLIPPERS 97 » LaMarcus Aldridge and Derrick White each had 17 points, and San Antonio beat Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles.
The Spurs stopped the Clippers’ seven-game win streak in Leonard’s second appearance in San Antonio as an opponent. Leonard finished with 19 points on 8-for-23 shooting. BUCKS 119, CAVALIERS 110 » Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 11 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter and Milwaukee held off Cleveland for its 10th straight victory.
Antetokounmpo grabbed 12 rebounds and has had double-doubles in every game this season for Milwaukee, at 16-3 the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks hadn’t won 10 in a row since the 1985-86 season.
RAPTORS 90, MAGIC 83 » Norman Powell scored a careerbest 33 points as Toronto won its sixth straight game, beating Orlando.
Powell was 7-for-9 shooting in the third quarter, including three 3-pointers. NETS 112, CELTICS 107 » Spencer Dinwiddie had 32 points and 11 assists while Kyrie Irving was again unable to face his former team, and Brooklyn beat Boston to split a home-andhome series.
Irving missed his eighth straight game with a right shoulder injury but was at the arena to get an evaluation and watch from the bench along with Kevin Durant as Dinwiddie kept up his strong play in his place. The Eastern Conference player of the week last week matched his highest assist total of the season and was two shy of his best scoring performance of the season.
HEAT 122, WARRIORS 105 » Goran Dragic scored 20 points, Tyler Herro added
19 and Miami remained perfect at home this season.
Duncan Robinson scored
17 for Miami, which is 8-0 at home for the second time in franchise history — tying the mark set by the 2012-13 Heat. Robinson and Herro were a combined 10 for 13 from 3-point range.
HEAT 122, WARRIORS 105 » Bojan Bogdanovic scored 16 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, helping Utah pull away from Memphis. PACERS 105, HAWKS 104, OT » Jeremy Lamb scored 20 points, T.J. Warren hit a go-ahead 3-pointer and Indiana outlasted Trae Young and Atlanta in overtime. THUNDER 109, PELICANS 104 » Dennis Schroder scored
25 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and had seven assists to help Oklahoma City beat New Orleans.