Harden hits 2 late 3s, 76ers top Nets
PHILADELPHIA » James Harden hit two 3-pointers and had a driving layup in the final four minutes against his former Brooklyn teammates and the Philadelphia 76ers stretched their winning streak to six games, outscoring the Nets 137-133 on Wednesday night.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 27 points, and Joel Embiid had 26. Harden added 23, and Philadelphia was 35 of 36 from the foul line.
Seth Curry had a season-high 32 points for Brooklyn. Kyrie Irving had 30 for the Nets, who have lost five of the last seven games without Kevin Durant.
The game was the first regular-season matchup between Embiid and former teammate Ben Simmons since a February 2022 trade that sent Simmons to Brooklyn for Harden. Simmons missed the rest of the 2022 season with various injuries, then Embiid was injured and missed the Sixers’ win in Simmons’ Philadelphia return Nov. 22.
TRAIL BLAZERS 134, JAZZ 124 »
Damian Lillard scored a season-high 60 points, hitting nine 3-pointers, and Portland beat Utah.
Lillard tied for secondmost in the NBA this season. Donovan Mitchell had 71 for Cleveland against Chicago on Jan. 3.
Jerami Grant added 19 points to help Portland win its second straight game.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 24 points. He had a layup followed by a tip shot with 5:20 left that got Utah to 115-108.
Grant and Anfernee Simons had back-to-back dunks to put Portland up 121-110 and the Blazers led comfortably the rest of the way.
When Lillard came to the free-throw line late in the game, the home crowd stood and chanted “MVP! “MVP!” Lillard missed a jump shot with 29.1 seconds left that would have topped his career best 61.
BUCKS 107, NUGGETS 99 » Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points and 14 rebounds tp help Milwaukee beat defeated short-handed Denver.
TIMBERWOLVES 111, PELICANS 102 » Anthony Edwards scored 37 points, Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 12 rebounds in his return from a groin injury, and Minnesota spoiled New Orleans star Brandon Ingram’s return from a two-month absence.
WIZARDS 108, ROCKETS 103 » Kyle Kuzma scored 20 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter to help Washington rally past Houston.
HAWKS 137, THUNDER 132 » Trae Young had 33 points and 11 assists in Atlanta’s victory over Oklahoma City.
MAGIC 126, PACERS 120 » Paolo Banchero scored 23 points, Garry Harris made all six of his 3-pointers and added 22 points and Orlando held Indiana.