Brunson returns, leads Knicks past Nuggets
Jalen Brunson scored 24 points in his return from a left foot injury, leading the New York Knicks to a 116-110 victory over the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
Brunson had 16 points in the first quarter to get the Knicks off to a quick start, then finished strong to help them come back after trailing by 13 in the second half. Brunson had missed five of the last six games and made it through only half the one game he did play because of soreness.
RJ Barrett added 21 points and Julius Randle had 20 for the Knicks, who won their third straight and improved to 42-30, guaranteeing just their second winning record in the last 10 seasons. Robinson grabbed nine rebounds.
Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Nuggets, who lost for the fifth time in six games. Jamal Murray scored 25 points. 76ERS 141, PACERS 121 >> Joel
Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each scored 31 points and Tobias Harris added 24 as Philadelphia routed Indiana to match its season high with an eighth consecutive victory.
In a matchup of teams missing All-Stars — Philadelphia’s James Harden and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton — the 76ers shot 61% from the field, led by as many as 24 points and never looked back after overcoming an
early eight-point deficit. De’Anthony Melton started in Harden’s place and finished with 14 points, five assists, five rebounds and six steals. Embiid chipped in seven assists and seven rebounds, while Maxey had seven assists.
MAGIC 113, CLIPPERS 108 >>
Markelle Fultz scored 12 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, Wendell Carter Jr. had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Orlando snapped its two-game skid with a victory over Los Angeles.
Franz Wagner scored 20 points and hit a gutsy 3-pointer with 40 seconds to play for the Magic, who had lost five of six before taking the lead in the fourth quarter and holding on.
RAPTORS 122, TIMBERWOLVES 107 >> Pascal Siakam had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Toronto extended its season-high home winning streak to seven by beating Minnesota.
Jakob Poeltl had 14 points and 11 rebounds, matching his career high with his fourth straight double-double, to help the Raptors improve to 24-4 alltime in home meetings with Minnesota.
BULLS 113, HEAT 99 >> DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points to lead a balanced Bulls offense and Chicago held off a late surge by Miami.
JAZZ 118, CELTICS 117 >> Lauri Markkanen scored 28 points and Walker Kessler had a game-saving block to help Utah get a comeback win over Boston.