76ers race to fifth straight victory
PHILADELPHIA — Tyrese Maxey made five 3-pointers and scored 33 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to their fifth straight victory, 125-119 over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
The 76ers improved to 4-0 with James Harden in the lineup. Harden had 25 points and 11 assists. Joel Embiid added 22 points and nine rebounds.
Maxey, though, stole the show.
The second-year guard out of Kentucky tore through the Cavaliers in the second half and seemingly turned Embiid and Harden into bystanders. His best sequence came in the fourth. Maxey hit a 3 that gave the Sixers a onepoint lead, then he drained a 3 off a pass from Harden on the break that made it 110-106.
Darius Garland scored 28 points for the Cavaliers. They have lost six of seven.
Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff was fined $20,000 by the NBA on Friday for his actions in Monday’s loss to Charlotte.
SUNS 115, KNICKS 114
Cam Johnson banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to finish with a career-high 38 points and give thost Phoenix a wild victory. Julius Randle led New York with 25 points but was ejected in the third quarter.
HAWKS 117, WIZARDS 114
De’Andre Hunter scored 26 points and Trae Young added 25 to help visiting Atlanta beat Washington.
The Wizards never led, but they pulled to within one with 5.3 seconds left when Raul Neto made a 3-pointer. Young then made two free throws with 3.7 seconds left.
Kentavious CaldwellPope scored 28 points for the Wizards.
PISTONS 111, PACERS 106
Saddiq Bey scored 25 points, Cade Cunningham had 20 points and nine rebounds and host Detroit rallied to beat Indiana.
Malcolm Brogdon scored 26 points for Indiana.
MAGIC 103, RAPTORS 97
Cole Anthony had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Chuma Okeke had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and visiting Orlando snapped a nine-game losing streak against Toronto.
Orlando hadn’t beaten the Raptors since a 113-98 victory in Toronto on Feb. 24, 2019.
BUCKS 118, BULLS 112
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 16 rebounds, Jrue Holiday came on strong down the stretch to finish with 26 points and help visiting Milwaukee beat Chicago.
Zach LaVine led Chicago with 30 points.
PELICANS 124, JAZZ 90
Brandon Ingram scored 29 points and C.J. McCollum added 24 in host New Orleans’ victory over Utah, its fourth consecutive win since the All-Star break.
Donovan Mitchell had 14 points for Utah, which shot 35.2 percent and had won nine of 10.
TIMBERWOLVES 139 THUNDER 101
Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid scored 20 points apiece, and visiting Minnesota routed Oklahoma City for its third straight victory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points for Oklahoma City.