76ers maintain hold on first place

SAN ANTONIO — Joel Embiid had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers held on to beat the undermanned San Antonio Spurs 113-111 in overtime Sunday night.

Ben Simmons tipped in the game-winner off a miss from Embiid as time expired.

Seth Curry scored 22 points and Dwight Howard added 14 as Philadelphia won its fourth straight to remain atop the Eastern Conference.

Lonnie Walker IV had 23 points to lead the Spurs, who lost their third straight. Keldon Johnson added 19 points, Rudy Gay had 18 and Gorgui Dieng 17.

The Spurs were without four starters as Dejounte Murray and Derrick White missed the game because of injuries and DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl sat out for rest.

San Antonio tied the game at 102 on Gay’s 3pointer with 2:37 remaining in regulation. The Sixers reclaimed the lead on the ensuing possession with a 3-pointer by Curry only to watch Johnson hit another game-tying 3.

BUCKS 117, NETS 114

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 49 points, Khris Middleton had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and host Milwaukee edged Kevin Durant and Brooklyn.

Antetokounmpo also had eight rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots.

Antetokounmpo was cleared to play and started after spraining his right ankle in the opening minute of the Bucks’ loss Thursday at Houston and missing the Bucks’ 108-98 win in Chicago on Friday.

Durant had 42 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets. Kyrie Irving scored 20 points, and Landry Shamet finished with 17.

SUNS 123, THUNDER 120

Devin Booker scored 32 points, and visiting Phoenix held off Oklahoma City.

Former Thunder guard Chris Paul had 18 points and 11 assists, and Torrey Craig added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns.

Darius Bazley had 19 points and nine rebounds and Theo Maledon added 18 points for the Thunder, who have lost 20 of 22.

TRAIL BLAZERS 129 CELTICS 109

CJ McCollum scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, visiting Portland held on for a win over Boston, extending its winning streak to four.

Damian Lillard had 26 points and 13 assists for Portland. Carmelo Anthony finished with 13 points — including a 3-pointer with 1:08 remaining to help seal it after Boston pulled within two points.

The Trail Blazers entered the game in seventh in the West.

Jayson Tatum scored 33 to lead Boston.

HEAT 121, HORNETS 111

Bam Adebayo had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Jimmy Butler added 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and surging Miami easily defeated host Charlotte to move into sole possession of sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Kendrick Nunn added 19 points and Goran Dragic had 18 for the Heat.

P.J. Washington had 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting for the Hornets (31-33).

KINGS 111, MAVERICKS 99

Buddy Hield scored 27 points, Marvin Bagley III had 23 points and nine rebounds and visiting Sacramento beat Dallas, giving the Kings a season sweep of the Mavericks.

Luka Doncic scored 30 points before getting ejected in the final minute after his second technical foul.

Rookie Tyrese Halliburton was forced to leave in the third quarter with a left knee injury.

RAPTORS 121, LAKERS 114

Pascal Siakam had 39 points and 13 rebounds, Kyle Lowry had 37 points and 11 assists and Toronto held off host Los Angeles to snap a three-game skid.

Kyle Kuzma led the Lakers with 24 points off the bench. LeBron James and Andre Drummond each added 19, Drummond chipping in 11 rebounds.

James went back to the locker room with 6:42 to play. It was his second game back after missing 20 because of a sprained right ankle.