UNDATED (AP) — Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup, but he lasted about 2 ½ quarters before the tema completed a 127-101 romp over the Wizards.
Embiid scored 23 points and seven rebounds in his first game since being sidelined by contact tracing last weekend. However, he sustained a left knee injury and limped off the court. Sixers coach Doc Rivers says his center will undergo an MRI on Saturday.
Shake Milton scored 18 points off the bench for the Sixers, who led by 17 in the first quarter and cruised to their eighth win in 10 games.
Checking out Friday’s other NBA action:
— Donovan Mitchell had 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Jazz dealt the Rockets their 15th consecutive loss, 114-99. Mike Conley added 20 points and Rudy Gobert had 14 points and 13 rebounds as the Jazz got back on track after dropping their final two games of the first half. The Rockets’ slump is their longest since losing 15 straight in 2001.
— Kyle Kuzma scored 15 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, LeBron James added 18 points and 10 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied late for a 105-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Montrezl Harrell had 17 points and Kuzma added 13 rebounds as the defending NBA champions returned from the All-Star break with just their fourth win in 11 games. Los Angeles trailed by 12 points early in the fourth quarter before Kuzma led a ferocious rally to keep the Pacers winless against the Lakers at Staples Center since November 2015.
— Nikola Jokic scored the Nuggets’ final five points to help them close out a 103-102 victory over the Grizzlies. Jokic finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Will Barton chipped in 21 points, including a 3-pointer than snapped a 95-all tie and put Denver ahead for good. Michael Porter Jr. also provided 21 points to help the Nuggets overcome a poor shooting night by Jamal Murray, who scored a season-high three points on 1 of 14 from the field.
— Jimmy Butler scored 28 points against his former team and Goran Dragic added 20 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as the Heat won for the ninth time in 10 games, 101-90 versus the Bulls. Butler added eight assists and Dragic finished one point shy of his season high thanks to a huge surge down the stretch. The Heat improved to 20-18 after moving above .500 for the first time this season by beating Orlando on Thursday.
— Rudy Gay had 19 points, Dejounte Murray and Derrick White each added 17 and the San Antonio Spurs overcame a sluggish start to rip the short-handed Orlando Magic 104-77. The Spurs opened the AT&T Center to the public for the first time since beating Dallas on March 10, 2020. San Antonio held an opponent under 80 points for the first time since beating Golden State 89-75 on March 19, 2018. Nikola Vucevic had 26 points and nine rebounds for the Magic in their seventh straight loss.
— Brandon Ingram scored 28 points, Zion Williamson added 23 and the New Orleans Pelicans bounced back from a lopsided loss with a 116-82 rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ingram played just 25 minutes and Williamson 18 because of the huge lead. Steven Adams had 10 points and 17 rebounds in his 21 minutes on the court.
