EMBIID WINS BATTLE OF MVP CONTENDERS

Joel Embiid won the battle of MVP candidates with 47 points and 18 rebounds as the 76ers extended their winning streak to seven games with a 126-119 win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Jokic and Embiid have finished first and second in voting for the NBA’S Most Valuable Player award over the last two seasons. Both are among the top candidates for MVP as this season hits the halfway mark, although Embiid was not named among the All-star starters from the Eastern Conference.

“I’m used to it and it’s not the first time,” Embiid said. “I think it’s more of a motivation to go out there and try to win the whole thing. That’s the only way that I’ll get that respect.”

Jokic gave Embiid a nod for his play.

“He’s really talented,” Jokic told the Denver Post of Embiid. “Really shifty.” 76ers 126, Nuggets 119

James Harden had 17 points and 13 assists, and Tobias Harris scored all 14 of his points in the second half after being shut down by Denver’s defense in the first half.

“We were able to figure some things out and get some stops,” Harris said. “Guys stepping up and making shots was huge for us to cut the deficit in the fourth quarter to try and make something happen.”

Jokic had 24 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for Denver, which has lost three of its last four games. Jamal Murray chipped in 22 points and Michael Porter added 20.

“We turned it over and they just turned up the pressure on us,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “They got to the basket way too easy with their attack mentality. And we just got way too careless with the basketball.”

Celtics 125, Lakers 121: Jaylen Brown scored 37 points, making a tying threepoint play with 4.1 seconds left in regulation and adding 11 more in overtime as Nbaleading Boston snapped a three-game losing streak by beating visiting Los Angeles.

Brown added nine rebounds, Jayson Tatum had 30 points and 11 rebounds, and Malcom Brogdon scored 15 of his 26 points in the second half of a see-saw game that had 19 lead changes — six in the fourth quarter — and 15 ties.

Lebron James had 41 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Anthony Davis had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers. Patrick Beverly scored 15 points, twice giving the Lakers the lead in the final minute of the fourth, but he also missed a foul shot that might have clinched it and was called for a technical foul on the contentious last play of regulation.

Clippers 120, Hawks 113: Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points, including a seasonhigh five 3-pointers, Paul

George added 23 points and Los Angeles beat host Atlanta for its fifth straight victory.

Trae Young had 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter for the Hawks, who whittled a 14-point deficit down to four on De’andre Hunter’s left corner 3 with 2:09 remaining. But they couldn’t get any closer after George buried a baseline jumper and Nicolas Batum hit a right corner 3 with 49.3 seconds to go.

Timberwolves 117, Kings 110: Anthony Edwards had 16 of his 34 points in the pivotal third quarter, D’angelo Russell scored 25 points and Minnesota held off visiting Sacramento.

Rudy Gobert added 13 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, which has won five of six and took the first of two straight meetings between the teams at Target Center. Naz Reid added 14 points off the bench.

Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento, which has lost three of four after a six-game winning streak. De’aaron Fox had 21 of his 29 points in the fourth.

Nets 122, Knicks 115: Kyrie Irving scored 21 of his 32 points in the final 91⁄2 minutes, carrying Brooklyn to its ninth straight victory over New York. within five. The All-star guard also had nine assists and six rebounds.

Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and RJ Barrett had 24 for the visiting Knicks. They had won consecutive games against Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland and Boston.

Rockets 117, Pistons 114: Kenyon Martin Jr. had a fourpoint possession with 31 seconds left to help Houston beat host Detroit in a matchup of the NBA’S worst teams.

Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 24 points. Martin had 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Tari Eason added 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Bulls 128, Magic 109: Demar Derozan and Zach Lavine each scored 32 points,

Nikola Vucevic added 26 points and 13 rebounds and Chicago won at Orlando.

Mo Wagner led the Magic with 27 points.

Jazz 108, Mavericks 100:

Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points, Malik Beasley added 19 and host Utah took advantage of Dallas star Luka Doncic’s absence to beat the Mavericks.

Doncic sat out because of a sprained left ankle.

Wizards 113, Pelicans 103:

Daniel Gafford had a seasonhigh 21 points to go with 12 rebounds and five blocked shots and Washington won at New Orleans for its fifth straight victory.

CJ Mccollum scored 24 points for the Pelicans.

Raptors 123, Trail Blazers 105: Precious Achiuwa scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in place of the injured OG Anunoby to lead visiting Toronto over Portland.

Damian Lillard scored 30 points and Jerami Grant 28 for Portland.