UNDATED (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 17 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter — hitting three jumpers in the final minutes and three free throws in the last four seconds to ice it as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 108-103.
With both teams fighting COVID-19 outbreaks, Embiid also had 10 rebounds and a steal on the Celtics’ last-chance inbound pass while playing 40 minutes, 14 seconds — a season high for a game that didn’t go to overtime.
Seth Curry scored 26 and Tobias Harris had 25 points for Philadelphia.
Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, Jayson Tatum had 17 and Enes Kanter Freedom had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics,
Checking out Monday’s other NBA action:
— Rudy Gobert had 23 points and 21 rebounds to lead the Utah Jazz to a 112-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Bojan Bogandovic added 23 points for the Jazz, who blew a 22-point lead but finished strong to snap a two-game home losing streak. Donovan Mitchell chipped in 21 points for Utah.
— Stephen Curry scored 30 points as the Warriors celebrated him for the 3-point record in his first game since breaking Ray Allen’s mark, and Golden State held off the Sacramento Kings 113-98 on Monday night in a matchup of short-handed rivals. Draymond Green notched his franchise-leading 31st career triple-double and first this season with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the win. Tyrese Haliburton had 24 points and 11 assists to lead Sacramento, which was down six players plus interim head coach Alvin Gentry.
— DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points and the Chicago Bulls beat the Houston Rockets 133-118. The Bulls never trailed and led by 25 points during the first half. They have won two consecutive games and six of their last eight. The Rockets have lost five of their last seven despite 23 points and 11 rebounds from center Christian Wood.
— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 23 points, Josh Giddey added 19 points and 11 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies 102-99. Morant returned from injury and the league’s COVID-19 protocols after a 12-game absence and finished with 16 points. The Thunder overcame an 89-84 deficit in the final 4:36 and took the lead for good at 96-95 on Giddey’s layup with 50 seconds remaining.
— Dejounte Murray delivered his third triple-double in five games with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-92. Jakob Poeltl added 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Doug McDermott scored 16 points as the Spurs improved to 2-1 on their four-game road trip. Paul George had 25 points for the Clippers after missing the previous five games with a sprained right elbow.
