Sixers star Harden sits out with eye on injury recovery

MIAMI — James Harden will miss Saturday’s 76ers game against the Miami Heat with left hamstring injury recovery, per the team.

The Sixers say this is part of Harden’s injury-management program after missing his final four games with the Brooklyn Nets before being traded to the Sixers on Feb. 10 and his first four games with the Sixers leading into the All-Star break.

The Sixers’ game against the Heat falls on the second night of a back-to-back after Friday’s home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Harden has been terrific with the Sixers, averaging 26.8 points on 59.2 percent shooting, 12 assists and 7.5 rebounds in four games.

Mavs’ Doncic out due to toe sprain

All-Star guard Luka Doncic sat out the Dallas Mavericks’ home game against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday because of a left toe sprain.

Doncic ranks sixth in the NBA in scoring (27.8 points per game), 18th in rebounding (9.2) and fifth in assists (8.8).

The Mavericks entered the game 31-16 this season with Doncic in the lineup and 6-9 without him.

Dallas coach Jason Kidd said he hopes Doncic will return for the Mavericks’ next game, at home against Utah on Monday night.

Johnson banks 3 for wild Suns win

Cam Johnson banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to finish with a career-high 38 points and give Phoenix a wild 115-114 home victory over New York on Friday night.

Johnson’s ninth 3-pointer in 12 tries came from 31 feet at the top of the key. The NBA-leading Suns, playing without All-Star guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker, improved to 51-12.

The Knicks looked as if they were headed for an impressive road win before Julius Randle’s ill-timed ejection in the third quarter in an exchange with Johnson.

New York blew a 14point lead following Randle’s ejection, but Mitchell Robinson’s layup with 15 seconds left gave the Knicks a 113-112 lead. Alec Burks added a free throw to give the Knicks a 114-112 advantage — but missed his second attempt — giving the Suns an opportunity in the final seconds.

Nuggets’ Cousins turns back clock

DeMarcus Cousins, starting in place of ailing Nikola Jokic, scored a season-high 31 points and Denver bounced back from a loss to beat visiting Houston 116-101 on Friday.

JaMychal Green and Jeff Green each added 14 points apiece as Denver shook off a loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday night for its seventh win in eight games. Will Barton had 11 points, hitting two 3-pointers to become the pass JR Smith as the Nuggets’ career leader with 769.

Christian Wood had 22 points for Houston, and Jalen Green added 18. The Rockets have lost 12 straight.

Magic snap skid against Raptors

Cole Anthony had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Chuma Okeke had 10 points and 11 rebounds and Orlando snapped a ninegame losing streak against Toronto with a 103-97 road win Friday.

Mo Bamba scored 14 points, and Jalen Suggs and Gary Harris each had 13 for the Magic.

Orlando hadn’t beaten the Raptors since a 113-98 victory in Toronto on Feb. 24, 2019.

Pascal Siakam had 34 points and 14 rebounds for Toronto, and Malachi Flynn scored a season-high 20.

Adam Hunger / Tribune News Service The 76ers’ James Harden, who has averaged 26.8 points per game in four games with Philadelphia, didn’t play Saturday as part of his injury-recovery program.