CHICAGO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 38 points, Nikola Vucevic added 31 points and 15 rebounds, and the Chicago Bulls overcame a sluggish start to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 106-101. Tied with Cleveland for second place in the Eastern Conference coming in, the Bulls turned things around after falling behind by 14 points in the second quarter. They made enough baskets down the stretch to come away with their third straight win. DeRozan set a career high with his sixth straight 30-point game. The All-Star scored nine over the final five minutes. Coby White scored 16. Lu Dort led Oklahoma City with 31 points. Rookie Josh Giddey added 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists for his second triple-double.
Checking out Saturday’s other NBA action:
— The Philadelphia 76ers are still waiting to put newly-acquired James Harden in the lineup, but that hasn’t stopped them from winning. Joel Embiid had a triple-double that included a highlight-reel jam in the 76ers’ win over the Cavaliers, 103-93. Embiid poured in 40 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and had 10 assists as the Sixers moved to 2-0 since Thursday’s blockbuster trade. He has scored at least 25 points in 31 consecutive games. Darius Garland was high man for the Cavaliers with 27 points.
— Devin Booker provided 26 points in the Suns’ 16th win in 17 games, a 132-105 dismantling of the Magic. Deandre Ayton had 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Chris Paul recorded his 30th double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 assists for the NBA’s top team.
— Klay Thompson scored 16 of his season-high 33 points in the fourth quarter as the Warriors got past the Lakers, 117-115. LA’s LeBron James had 26 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists while passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most career points in the regular season and playoffs combined.
— Bam Adebayo (ad-eh-BY’-oh) delivered 19 points and 14 rebounds as the Heat handed the Nets their 11th consecutive loss, 115-111. Duncan Robinson finished with 17 points, shooting 6-for-10 from 3-point range for the Eastern Conference leaders.
— The Grizzlies picked up their fifth straight win by holding off the Hornets, 125-118. Led by Ja Morant’s 26 points and Desmond Bane’s 25, Memphis scored at least 120 for the fifth consecutive game.
— Reggie Jackson scored 24 points and the Clippers held off the Mavericks in the final minute for a 99-97 victory. Luka Doncic (DAHN’-chihch) had 23 of his 45 points in the fourth quarter for Dallas two nights after scoring 28 of his career-high 51 points in the first period.
— The Raptors’ eight-game winning streak is over after Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH’-lah YOH’-kihch) had 28 points and 15 rebounds in the Nuggets’ 110-109 decision over Toronto. Bones Hyland added 11 points, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 3:16 remaining.
— Dejounte (deh-ZHAHN’-tay) Murray had 31 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs in a 123-114 victory over the Pelicans. Lonnie Walker scored 17 points, Keldon Johnson added 16, and Doug McDermott had 15 for the Spurs.
— The Trail Blazers erased a 23-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the Knicks, 112-103. Anfernee Simons had 30 points and eight assists for the Blazers, who outscored New York, 35-11 in the final period.
— The Kings were 123-110 winners over the Wizards as Domantas Sabonis (doh-MAHN’-tahs sah-BOH’-nihs) added 16 points and 11 rebounds in his second game with Sacramento. De’Aaron Fox scored 26 points and Harrison Barnes added 21 points for the Kings.
