76ers top Pelicans, near East title
PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid had 37 points and 13 rebounds to the tune of “MVP! MVP!” chants and the Philadelphia 76ers inched closer toward securing the top spot in the East with a 109-107 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
The 76ers won their season-high seventh straight game and increased their lead to three games over Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference.
Embiid made two free throws with 1:39 left to bring the Sixers within one, then grabbed a defensive rebound on the other end to set up Tobias Harris’ 3 with 1:10 left that made it 109-107. Philadelphia forced two turnovers to seal the victory.
Jaxson Hayes scored 19 points for the Pelicans, playing with Zion Williamson sidelined indefinitely by a fractured left finger.
SPURS 113, KINGS 104
DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 25 points, and Dejounte Murray added 22 for visiting San Antonio, who were down 81-78 entering the fourth and ended a five-game skid.
MAVERICKS 110 CAVALIERS 90
Luka Doncic scored 24 points in 23 minutes, and host Dallas kept the prime spot in a tight race to avoid the Western Conference play-in tournament with a breezy victory over Cleveland.
Dallas guaranteed it would remain in fifth place in the West, a game ahead of either the Los Angeles Lakers or Portland with five games remaining.
BULLS 121, CELTICS 99
Zach LaVine and Coby White each scored 25 points, and host Chicago overcame 33 points by Kemba Walker to beat Boston.
With their playoff hopes fading and fans at the United Center for the first time this season, the Bulls led by 21 in the third quarter and put this one away after Boston got within eight in the fourth, scoring 12 straight.
HEAT 121 TIMBERWOLVES 112
Tyler Herro returned after a six-game absence and scored 27 points, Jimmy Butler had 25 and host Miami beat Minnesota to move back into the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference.
Goran Dragic added 23 points for Miami. Herro, who had been out with right foot soreness, was 10 of 13 from the field and 6 of 8 from 3-point range for Miami (36-31).
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter for Minnesota.
HORNETS 122, MAGIC 112
Terry Rozier scored 28 points, LaMelo Ball added 27 points and host Charlotte beat Orlando to inch closer to a spot in the play-in tournament.
The Hornets needed a win and a loss by Chicago to Boston to clinch a berth, but the Bulls beat the Celtics.
SUNS 128, KNICKS 105
Deandre Ayton had game-highs of 26 points and 15 rebounds for host Phoenix, which outscored New York 72-42 in the second half after being down seven at halftime.
JAZZ 127, NUGGETS 120
Bojan Bogdanovic scored a career-high 48 points to rally visiting Utah.
Bogdanovic went 16 of 23 from the field — making a career-high eight 3-pointers — to lead the NBAleading Jazz to their fourth straight victory. He also had eight rebounds.
TRAIL BLAZERS 106 LAKERS 101
Damian Lillard scored 38 points for the host Trail Blazers to outduel Anthony Davis (36 points) and the Lakers.