Embiid scores 52 as 76ers top Celtics
Joel Embiid scored 52 points on 20-of-25 shooting and added 13 rebounds, six assists and two blocks to lead the host Philadelphia 76ers to a 103-101 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday in a showdown between Eastern Conference contenders.
It was Embiid’s fifth career 50-point game. James Harden added 20 points and 10 assists for Philadelphia, which has won three of four and avoided a four-game season sweep in the head-to-head series, Reuters reported.
Six Boston players scored double-digit points, led by Derrick White’s 26 on four 3-pointers. Jayson Tatum had 19 points, six assists and three steals.
P.J. Tucker (11 points) scored back-to-back 3-pointers during a 12-1 run that ultimately swayed the game in the Sixers’ favor. White sliced the deficit to 103-101 with two seconds left. After Williams drew an offensive foul on an inbounds play, Tatum’s tough 3-point attempt from the corner at the buzzer clanked off the rim.
Elsewhere, LeBron James scored 37 points and hit a game-winning layup in overtime to help Los Angeles Lakers edge Utah Jazz 135-133 in Salt Lake City.
Austin Reaves added 28 points and Anthony Davis totaled 21 points, 14 rebounds and six assists as the Lakers won their fourth straight and moved a step closer to clinching a playoff spot.
Despite having three starters sidelined, the Jazz rallied in the final 1:36 of regulation, outscoring the Lakers 10-0 to force overtime. Former Laker Talen Horton-Tucker and Kelly Olynyk each scored 23 points and Ochai Agbaji contributed 22 for the Jazz, which lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Devin Booker scored 27 points as Phoenix Suns jumped to a big 115-94 lead against visiting San Antonio Spurs on the way to securing a playoff spot with a sixth straight win.
Chris Paul added 22 points for the Suns, Deandre Ayton tallied 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Kevin Durant scored 18 points.
Malaki Branham led the Spurs with 21 points and Tre Jones added 20.