76ers' Embiid out-duels Jokic

Joel Embiid won the battle of MVP candidates with 47 points and 18 rebounds as the host Philadelphia 76ers extended their winning streak to seven games with a 126119 win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

Jokic and Embiid have finished first and second in voting for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award over the past two seasons. Both are among the top candidates for MVP as this season hits the halfway mark.

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.

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.

Embiid has scored 40 or more points nine times this season and 35 times in his career.

NETS 122, KNICKS 115 >> Kyrie Irving scored 21 of his 32 points in the final 9 1/2 minutes, carrying host Brooklyn to its ninth straight victory over New York. He also had nine assists and six rebounds. Joe Harris added 16 points and Nic Claxton had 13 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the Nets. Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and RJ Barrett had 24 for the Knicks.

CLIPPERS 120, HAWKS 113 >> Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points, including a seasonhigh five 3-pointers, Paul George added 23 points and visiting Los Angeles won its fifth straight game. Trae Young had 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter for Atlanta, which 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. BULLS 128, MAGIC 109 >> DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine each scored 32 points, Nikola Vucevic added 26 points and 13 rebounds and visiting Chicago turned back a late rally by Orlando. Mo Wagner led the Magic with 27 points, combining with Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs to lead a furious second-half rally that cut a 25-point deficit to six. Patrick Williams had 16 points and six rebounds for the Bulls, who shot 59.3% for the game. ROCKETS 117, PISTONS 114 >> Kenyon Martin Jr. had a four-point possession with 31 seconds left to help visiting Houston in a matchup of the NBA's worst teams. Eric Gordon led the Rockets (12-38) with 24 points. Martin had 15 points and 13 rebounds. Alec Burks had 21 points for Detroit (13-38).