Pacers’ Carlisle loses in his return to Dallas

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle returned to Dallas on Saturday night for the first time since resigning last summer following 13 seasons as Mavericks coach, which included leading the franchise to its only NBA championship to date in 2011.

“It’s a little bit of an unusual day, but it’s great to be back,” Carlisle, 62, said before his Pacers’ 132-105 loss.

Luka Doncic had 30 points and 12 assists for the Mavericks, who played a video tribute to Carlisle before the game and he was given a standing ovation. Carlisle, tears streaming down his face, then waved to the fans and saluted Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Carlisle resigned June 16, 10 days after Dallas lost its firstround playoff series to the Los Angeles Clippers for the second straight year. In making his announcement, Carlisle said his departure was solely his decision.

A week later, Carlisle was hired by the Pacers.

Carlisle recommended Jason Kidd to follow him as Dallas’ coach.

“He’s done a tremendous job,” Carlisle said. “His history here, as a player who was drafted here, a Hall of Fame player on a championship team here, I know the kind of warrior he is when it comes to winning and how smart he is. They’re a major threat in the West.”

Celtics 107, Pelicans 97: Jayson Tatum scored 38 points and Jaylen Brown added 31 as Boston beat host New Orleans for its third win in four games.

Robert Williams grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked four shots for the Celtics, who led by double digits for most of the game.

76ers 103, Kings 101: Joel Embiid scored 36 points and host Philadelphia survived a scare as Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes missed a 3-pointer as time expired in the 76ers’ fourth consecutive win.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 38 points and Barnes had 16 for the Kings, who have lost six in a row.

Grizzlies 115, Wizards 95: Ja Morant scored 34 points, his sixth straight game of at least 30 points, as host Memphis beat Washington for their 16th win in 19 games.

Morant, picked as an AllStar starter for the Western Conference this week, was 15-for-27 from the field, including 4-for-8 from 3-point range.

Medical report: Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the team at 22.7 points per game, is expected to be out for at least three weeks because of a sprained ankle, the team announced. Gilgeous-Alexander was injured Friday during a loss to Indiana . ... Chicago guard Lonzo Ball had surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He is expected to be sidelined until at least mid-March.

Briefly: Denver cut former Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins, who had been playing on a 10-day hardship contract, then re-signed him to a standard 10-day contract . ... New Orleans signed forward Wenyen Gabriel to a 10-day hardship contract.