NBA Roundup: Fired-Up Embiid Leads Sixers Past Jazz

Philadelphia — Ben Simmons scored 27 points, a fired-up Joel Embiid added 15 points and 10 rebounds despite a sore knee, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the cold-shooting Utah Jazz, 107-86, on Monday night.

Embiid skipped the morning shootaround because of pain his surgically repaired left knee. But he posted his seventh double-double and got under Utah’s skin in the fourth quarter.

After swatting away rookie Donovan Mitchell’s layup, Embiid turned and said something to the fallen Mitchell, who got up and shoved Embiid to the floor. Mitchell drew a technical foul.

Embiid got up and motioned to the fans, who started to chant “MVP” and “Trust the Process,” the team’s mantra during a lengthy rebuild. Embiid got a standing ovation as he exited with 1:50 left in Philadelphia’s second win in five games.

Mitchell scored 17 points on 6 of 19 shooting, Rodney Hood added 13 while making 5 of 17 shots, and the Jazz shot 35.3 percent from the field in losing for the eighth time in 10 games.

Cavaliers 116, Pistons 88

Detroit — LeBron James scored 16 of his 18 points in the first quarter and Cleveland made 11 3-pointers in the first half on the way to a rout of Detroit.

Cleveland led, 73-46, at halftime thanks to an overwhelming shooting performance, an indication that Detroit’s stay atop the Central Division might not last much longer. The Pistons still lead the Cavs by a game, but Cleveland has won five straight and scored at least 110 points in eight of its last nine.

The Cavaliers led 27-22 when James went to the bench late in the first quarter. By the time he came back in, it was 50-30. Cleveland’s reserves ended up outscoring Detroit’s 26-8 in the first half.

Pacers 105, Magic 97

Orlando, Fla. — Victor Oladipo had 29 points, nine rebounds and seven steals to lead Indiana to its fourth straight win, beating Orlando.

Oladipo, who played his first three NBA seasons in Orlando, and Bojan Bogdanovic combined for 40 points in the second half, 14 of them during a 16-3 third-quarter run that put the Pacers in command.

Bogdanovic scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half.

Knicks 107, Clippers 85

New York — Kristaps Porzingis scored 25 points and New York extended Los Angeles’ losing streak to nine games.

Porzingis outplayed a frustrated Blake Griffin and helped the Knicks snap a 10-game skid in the series with their first victory over the Clippers in five years.

Doug McDermott added 16 points for the Knicks, including a 3-pointer that swung the momentum for good midway through the third quarter.

Hornets 118Timberwolves 102

Charlotte, n.c. — Dwight Howard had 25 points and 20 rebounds, and Charlotte defeated Minnesota.

Howard, acquired in an offseason trade from Atlanta, was 8-for-10 from the field and 9-of-14 at the foul line, where he has struggled all season. He outplayed Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who had 18 points and 12 rebounds as Minnesota lost on back-to-back nights.

Howard, the NBA’s active leader in 20-20 games with 49, became the first Hornets player to accomplish the feat since Al Jefferson in 2013.

Wizards 99, Bucks 88

Milwaukee — Bradley Beal scored 23 points to lead Washington over Milwaukee.

Beal helped the Wizards separate from the Bucks with a personal 7-0 run late in the third quarter. Washington then outscored Milwaukee 13-4 to start the fourth, building an 86-70 advantage.

The win snapped a two-game skid for the Wizards, who were playing on back-to-back days for the first time this season.

Trail Blazers 100Grizzlies 92

Memphis, Tenn. — C. J. McCollum scored 24 points and Damian Lillard added 21 points as Portland sent Memphis to its fifth straight loss.

Shabazz Napier added 16 points, while Noah Vonleh finished with 11 points and 18 rebounds for Portland, which won its second straight and fourth in the last five.

Mario Chalmers led Memphis with 21 points, while Tyreke Evans finished with 20. Marc Gasol had 19 points and 12 rebounds, but was 7 of 20 from the floor, part of the Grizzlies shooting 38 percent for the game, and 27 percent from outside the arc.

Spurs 96, Hawks 85

San Antonio — LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and San Antonio held off Atlanta.

Atlanta lost its 20th straight game in San Antonio, a skid spanning 20 years.

Manu Ginobili had 16 points and Danny Green had 14 for the Spurs, who have won four of five. Kyle Anderson added 13 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in his 17th start in place of injured All-Star Kawhi Leonard.

Pelicans 114, Thunder 107

New Orleans — Anthony Davis had 36 points and 15 rebounds, and New Orleans rallied after DeMarcus Cousins’ ejection to beat Oklahoma City.

Cousins had 18 points and nine rebounds before he was called for a flagrant foul on Russell Westbrook with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Cousins raised his elbows near Westbrook’s face after grabbing a rebound, and the Thunder guard dropped to the floor holding his head. Westbrook remained in the game and finished with 22 points, 16 rebounds, 12 assists and three steals. However, Westbrook also missed 13 of 19 shots.

New Orleans trailed 76-72 when Cousins was ejected but surged ahead soon after with an 11-3 run during which Jameer Nelson, E’Twaun Moore and Darius Miller each hit 3s, with Nelson’s banking in from near half-court as the shot clock expired.

Jrue Holiday scored 18 points for New Orleans, which snapped a two-game skid.

Paul George hit six 3s en route to 26 points and Carmelo Anthony scored 19 for Oklahoma City, which lost its second straight.