BOSTON CELTICS guard Jaylen Brown (7) tries to drive past Phoenix Suns guard Josh Jackson, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday in Phoenix.
Markelle Fultz had 10 points and eight assists in his first game since October, helping the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Denver Nuggets 123-104 on Monday night.
The Sixers and their fans wanted the No. 1 pick to play and — after five often-confusing months — they got him.
The first pick of the 2017 draft shot an air ball, had three shots blocked and artfully attacked the lane, flashing glimpses of what has made him both a mystery project and prominent prospect.
With a playoff berth clinched for the first time since 2012, the 76ers and Fultz decided the time was right for the guard to return from an injured shoulder and busted confidence that had cost him all but four games of his rookie season.
Joel Embiid had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Sixers. Will Barton led Denver with 25 points.
Grizzlies 101,
T-Wolves 93
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Wayne Selden scored 23 points, Marc Gasol had 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and the Grizzlies snapped a 17-game road losing streak
The Timberwolves (42-33) dropped to eighth in the Western Conference standings, a half-game back of idle Utah.
Jeff Teague had 25 points and seven assists for Minnesota, which lost its second straight game and dropped to 6-7 since All-Star Jimmy Butler was lost to a knee injury.
Hornets 137,
Knicks 128, OT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kemba Walker had 11 points of his 31 points and three assists in overtime, and Charlotte earned its fourth straight victory.
Walker hit a late 3-pointer to help send the game into overtime and then took over.
Walker was 4 for 4 in the extra period with three 3- pointers to outduel New York’s Trey Burke, who finished with a career-high 42 points on 19-of-31 shooting and 12 assists.
Michael Beasley added 27 points for the Knicks, who fell to 9-30 on the road.
Pistons 112,
Lakers 106
DETROIT (AP) — Reggie Jackson scored 20 points and Reggie Bullock had 16, leading the Pistons to the victory.
Detroit (34-40) won for the fourth time in five games, but trails idle Miami by five games for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
With Blake Griffin reduced to 24 minutes due to foul trouble, reserve Anthony Tolliver added 15 points as the Pistons put six players in double figures.
Julius Randle had 22 points and 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, and Lonzo Ball finished with 15 points.
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