Spurs 76ers Basketball

Tobias Harris of the 76ersgoes up for the shot against San Antonio’s Dejounte Murray, right, during the first half of Philadelphia’s 119-100 win Friday night. Chris Szagola/Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid had 31 points and 12 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers extended their winning streak to six games with a 119-100 victory over the short-handed San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.

Embiid has scored at least 31 points in every game during the winning streak and has averaged 33.2 points and 10.5 rebounds. The four-time All-Star entered Friday leading Philadelphia in scoring (26.7 ppg) and rebounding (10.7 rpg).

Seth Curry and Tobias Harris each scored 23 points for the 76ers, who never trailed.

Dejounte Murray scored 27 points for San Antonio, which was without six players because of health and safety protocols. The Spurs, playing their fifth game of a seven-game trip, have lost five of six.

Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones and Derrick White – who combined for 46 points in San Antonio’s 99-97 win at Boston on Wednesday – joined Doug McDermott and Thaddeus Young on the sidelines because of COVID-19 protocols.

“Start whoever you want,” said Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich, who was missing four of his top seven scorers. “I don’t even know half their names in there tonight.”

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BUCKS 121, NETS 109: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points in his return from a one-game absence, Khris Middleton added 15 of his 20 in the third quarter and visiting Milwaukee blew Brooklyn.

Bobby Portis scored 20 of his 25 in the first half to help the Bucks snap a two-game skid. The last loss came without Antetokounmpo, who didn’t play Wednesday night against Toronto because of an illness unrelated to COVID-19.

The Bucks are without Coach Mike Budenholzer, point guard Jrue Holiday and a number of other key players because of coronavirus health and safety protocols, but got big games from some who did play. Antetokounmpo had nine assists and seven rebounds, and Portis grabbed 12 rebounds.

Kevin Durant had 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Nets, who have lost five straight home games. James Harden finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Brooklyn won Wednesday night in Indiana with Kyrie Irving making his season debut. He wasn’t in the building Friday, ineligible to play home games because he hasn’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 as mandated for New York City’s professional athletes.

Back on the court where they won Game 7 in overtime in last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals, the Bucks made clear early this one wouldn’t be going down to the wire.

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Portis scored 10 points in the first quarter and had 10 more in the second, sending Milwaukee to the half with a 60-49 lead.

RAPTORS 122, JAZZ 108: Fred VanVleet had 37 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, OG Anunoby scored 22 points, and Toronto overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the short-handed Jazz, snapping Utah’s 10-game road winning streak.

Pascal Siakam scored 17 points, Chris Boucher had 13, Scottie Barnes had 11 and Gary Trent Jr. added 10 as the Raptors extended their winning streak to five and ended a three-game losing streak against the Jazz.

Eric Paschall scored a career-high 29 points, Elijah Hughes had a career-best 26 and Jared Butler scored 17 for the depleted Jazz, who were without eight regulars.

VanVleet completed his triple-double with a lob pass to Precious Achiuwa with 2:01 left.

BULLS 130, WIZARDS 122: Zach LaVine scored 27 points, Coby White added 21 and Chicago won its ninth straight, beating visiting Washington.

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The Eastern Conference-leading Bulls matched their longest winning streak since the 2010-11 team won nine in a row to finish the regular season.

Lonzo Ball scored 18 points, hitting six of Chicago’s 15 3-pointers. White buried four from beyond the arc. Rookie Ayo Dosunmu chipped in with 18 points, and Coach Billy Donovan earned his 300th NBA win.

Bradley Beal led Washington with 26 points.

MAVERICKS 130, ROCKETS 106: Tim Hardaway Jr. had 19 points and seven assists to lead Dallas to a win at Houston despite missing two stars and its head coach.

Dallas was without Luka Doncic, who was sidelined because of a right ankle sprain, and Kristaps Porzingis, who missed his fourth straight game in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

Dallas was also missing Coach Jason Kidd, who entered the health and safety protocols on Friday – becoming the 13th NBA coach to do that.

TIMBERWOLVES 135, THUNDER 105: D’Angelo Russell had 27 points and 12 assists and visiting Minnesota routed Oklahoma City for its third straight victory.

Russell made 11 of 12 field goals and 4 of 5 3-pointers to help the Timberwolves beat the Thunder for second tine in three nights.

Lu Dort scored 18 points for the Thunder, who have lost three straight.


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