UNDATED (AP) — Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers have regained a share of first place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, pulling even with the Brooklyn Nets by downing Boston.
Embiid scored 35 points as the Sixers finished a three-game season sweep of the Celtics, 106-96. Danny Green added 17 points for the 76ers, who have won both games with Embiid in the lineup since he missed 10 straight due to a bone bruise in his left knee.
Philadelphia led by 21 in the second half of the opener of a four-game trip.
Boston was trying for its first three-game win streak since early March. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 20 points.
Checking out Tuesday’s other NBA action:
— Kelly Oubre Jr. converted a pair of free throws with 7.7 seconds left to give Golden State the lead in a 122-121 downing of the Bucks. Stephen Curry poured in 41 points, nailing five 3-pointers, including a trey with 1:06 remaining. Oubre wound up with 19 points and Bazemore scored 18 in just the Warriors’ second win in nine games.
— The Clippers cruised to an easy win after setting a team record with 47 points in the first quarter of a 133-116 trouncing of the Trail Blazers. Paul George had 36 points on 11 of 18 shooting, making six 3-pointers and all eight of his free throws. Kawhi Leonard added 29 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists as Los Angeles ended Portland’s four-game road winning streak.
— The Lakers built a 34-point lead in the first 20 minutes and cruised to a 110-101 win over the Raptors. Talen Horton-Tucker led seven Lakers in double figures with 17 points and Markieff Morris scored 15 before leaving the game with five fouls in the third quarter. The Lakers converted 13 of their first 18 3-point attempts and led 66-32 after Morris scored seven straight points late in the second quarter.
— Nikola Jokic scored 27 points in 27 minutes to carry the Nuggets to a 139-119 romp over the Pistons. Jokic also dished out 11 assists, his 83rd career double-digit assist game, two more than Wilt Chamberlain had in his Hall of Fame career. Denver also got 25 points from Michael Porter Jr. and 24 from Will Barton in its seventh win in a row.
— Dillon Brooks scored 28 points on 10-for-16 shooting as the Grizzlies defeated the Heat, 124-112. Jonas Valanciunas scored 20 points, Kyle Anderson finished with 19 points and Desmond Bane added 15 points as Memphis won its third in a row. The loss ended Miami’s four-game winning streak, three weeks after the Grizzlies stalled another Heat streak at five.
— Trae Young scored 30 points and the Hawks drained 11 of their 20 3-pointers in the third quarter of a 123-107 victory against the Pelicans. Bogdan Bogdanovic provided four 3s in the third period and finished with 21 points. Kevin Huerter had 17 points and Young had 12 assists for Atlanta, which has won four consecutive games to improve to 13-4 under interim coach Nate McMillan.
— Nikola Vucevic took advantage of Indiana’s missing big men by posting 32 points and 17 rebounds to help the Bulls overwhelm the short-handed Pacers, 113-97. All-Star Zach LaVine added 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in Chicago’s second straight win since a six-game slide. The Pacers started the game without two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis and guard Malcolm Brogdon before losing Myles Turner in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle.
