UNDATED (AP) — The pandemic has caught up to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Sixers faced Denver without All-Stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid and had the minimum eight players active as the team deals with injuries and COVID-19 concerns. Simmons and Embiid were nursing injuries, while Seth Curry and Tobias Harris sat out due to COVID.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 39 points on 18-of-33 shooting in his first career start, but the Nuggets took advantage of the short-handed 76ers by posting a 115-103 win at Philadelphia. Nikola Jokic provided 15 points and 12 assists for Denver, while Gary Harris chipped in 21 points.
In other virus-related NBA news:
— The Boston Celtics could be without stars Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and a number of other players because of coronavirus safety protocols when they face Miami on Sunday.
The Celtics are listing Tatum as doubtful and Brown as questionable for the rematch of the Eastern Conference finals.
Tristan Thompson, Grant Williams and Robert Williams have already been ruled out for that reason, and the status of Semi Ojeleye and Javonte Green is unknown.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Bucks beat Cavaliers 100-90 without injured Antetokounmpo
UNDATED (AP) — Khris Middleton dropped in 27 points and the Bucks withstood the absence of two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat the Cavaliers, 100-90. Bobby Portis chipped in 17 points while starting in place of Antetokounmpo, who sat out with back spasms after taking a hard fall one night earlier in a loss to Utah.
In Saturday’s other NBA action:
— Tyler Herro delivered a career-high 31 points and Jimmy Butler nearly had a triple-double in the Heat’s 128-124 verdict over the Wizards. Butler finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists against Washington, which played without starting guards Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook. Beal was placed in the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocol after scoring 101 points in his last two games.
— LaMelo Ball became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, contributing 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to the Hornets’ third straight win, 113-105 over the Hawks. The 19-year-old Ball replaced Markelle Fultz as the youngest NBA player to record a triple-double by 177 days.
— Phoenix is 7-3 after Mikal Bridges scored a career-high 34 points and Devin Booker added 25 in a 125-117 victory over the Pacers. Bridges drained a trey to cap an 11-0 run that made it 109-96 with 5:49 left.
— Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke each had season highs for points while Luka Doncic had a triple-double in the Mavericks’ 112-98 decision over the Magic. Hardaway finished with 36 points, Burke had 29 and Doncic contributed 20, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
— CJ McCollum nailed six 3-pointers and delivered 37 points in the Trail Blazers’ 125-99 thrashing of the Kings. Damian Lillard scored 17 points and Carmelo Anthony added 13 for Portland.
— DeMar DeRozan scored 13 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to help the Spurs beat Minnesota, 125-122. Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 13 boards in 37 minutes after missing the last six games with a partial dislocation of his left wrist.
