Murray, Embiid each go for 50

Jamal Murray scored a career-high 50 points, All- Star starter Nikola Jokic had a triple-double and the Denver Nuggets adjusted to a schedule change by handing the Cleveland Cavaliers their ninth straight loss, 120-103 on Friday night .

A stopover in Cleveland was not originally part of Denver’s travel itinerary for a four-game trip. However, when the league postponed three San Antonio games — including one against the Cavs on Wednesday — earlier this week because of virus cases on the Spurs, the Nuggets were re-routed.

They made their first 12 shots, opened a 22-point lead in the second half and then let Murray close out the Cavs.

Murray hardly missed, making 21 of 25 shots, including 8 of 10 3-pointers. He didn’t attempt a free throw.

With the Cavs still hanging around in the fourth, Murray made three 3-pointers in 65 seconds to push Denver’s lead to 21. He scored 20 in the final quarter before being replaced with 2:23 left.

Collin Sexton scored 23 and Jarrett Allen 20 for Cleveland, which had a couple days to prepare for the Nuggets but still couldn’t stop them.

Not the way Murray was shooting.

Murray scored Denver’s first 13 in the last quarter, and then passed his previous career best of 46 points by hitting another 3 — on Jokic’s 10th assist — with 4 minutes left.

Michael Porter Jr. added 22 points for the Nuggets. Jokic had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

76ERS 112, BULLS 105 >> All-Star Joel Embiid scored a career-high 50 points to lead Philadelphia to the victory at home.

Embiid added 17 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals in a dominating performance.

Tobias Harris had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Eastern Conferenceleading 76ers, who played without Ben Simmons (illness) for the second straight game.

Zach LaVine scored 30 points for the Bulls.

SUNS 122, PELICANS 114 >> Chris Paul had 15 points and a season-high 19 assists, spearheading an 11-point, fourth-quarter comeback by visiting Phoenix.

The Suns outscored New Orleans 41-12 in the final quarter.

Phoenix hit 22 from 3-point range on 39 attempts (56.4%). Jae Crowder hit six 3s on his way to 20 points, and Frank Kaminsky madehit five 3s for the bulk of his 17 points. Devin Booker scored 23 points to help the Suns rebound from a tough home loss to Brooklyn to win for the 10th time in 12 games.

Brandon Ingram scored 25 points for the Pelicans, who’ve lost five of six.

CELTICS 121, HAWKS 109 >> Kemba Walker scored a season-high 28 points and host Boston held off Atlanta.

Jayson Tatum added 25 points and eight rebounds. Jaylen Brown and Tristan Thompson each had 17 points to help Boston take the second of back-to-back meetings between the teams. The Hawks won the first meeting on Wednesday night.

Trae Young scored 31 points for Atlanta, which has lost five of six.

BUCKS 98, THUNDER 85 >> Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and eight assists, and Milwaukee beat Oklahoma City to snap a fivegame skid.

The Bucks, who posted the NBA’s best regularseason record each of the last two seasons, avoided their first six-game losing streak since March 12-22, 2015. They hadn’t lost five straight since Jan. 25 to Feb. 3 in 2017.

Khris Middleton added 20 points for the Bucks.