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SPORTS Tuesday 12 February 2019

Embiid leads Sixers past

Lebron-led Lakers, 143-120

By DAVE ZEITLIN T.J. McConnell's 3-pointer in the clos-
Associated Press ing seconds. The Sixers ran away with
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Magic Johnson the game from there while gleeful fans
and LeBron James have captured eight chanted "Kobe's better" at James.
NBA titles between them. With Johnson WARRIORS 120, HEAT 118
in the stands and James on the court, OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Durant
the Philadelphia 76ers showed off their scored 39 points and DeMarcus Cous-
own championship potential. ins made two free throws with 5.4 sec-
Joel Embiid had 37 points and 14 re- onds to play that helped Golden State
bounds, Tobias Harris scored 22 points cap a comeback from a 19-point defi-
in his second game with Philadelphia, cit in the first quarter to beat Miami.
and the new-look 76ers beat James Cousins rebounded a missed 3-pointer
and the Los Angeles Lakers 143-120 on by Durant and drew a foul, setting the
Sunday. stage for his winning free throws that
JJ Redick added 21 points for the Sixers, gave the Warriors their 11th double-
who have won two straight after ac- digit comeback of the season, and
quiring Harris and four others at Thurs- second straight after rallying from 17
day's trade deadline. Jimmy Butler fin- points down in the first quarter Friday in
ished with 15 points in front of a packed Phoenix.
Philly crowd that brought a playoff-like Klay Thompson scored 29 points and
feel to the nationally televised game. Stephen Curry added 25 for Golden
"The East better watch out," said John- State. Josh Richardson helped shoot
son, the Lakers president who made Miami to the big early lead and fin-
the trip to Philly for the game. "This is a ished with a career-high 37 points with
stacked team." help from eight 3-pointers.
Kyle Kuzma led the Lakers with 39 points MAVERICKS 102, TRAIL BLAZERS 101
while James had 18 points, 10 rebounds DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 28
and nine assists. points, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 24 and
James was facing Philadelphia for the Dallas erased a 15-point deficit in the
first time since the Sixers made a big fourth quarter to beat Portland.
push to sign the superstar as a free Doncic also had nine rebounds and
agent last summer. He and Kuzma both six assists. Damian Lillard scored 21 of
missed the last matchup with Philly on his 30 points in the last half of the third
Jan. 29, which the Sixers won 121-105. quarter to help the Blazers build a lead
"I thought they were going to be very that grew to 96-81 early in the fourth.
good anyway before they made any KINGS 117, SUNS 104
moves, before the season even start- SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Marvin
ed," James said. "And they've made a Bagley III had a career-high 32 points
bunch of moves to improve their club." and six rebounds and Sacramento
Fresh off a buzzer-beating win at Bos- handed Phoenix its 14th straight loss.
ton, the Lakers shot nearly 60 percent Buddy Hield scored 18 points, De'Aaron
and scored 40 points in the first quarter. Fox had 17 points and nine assists, and
But fueled by Redick's four-point play, Nemanja Bjelica added 10 points and
the Sixers closed the first half on a 19-6 eight rebounds to help Sacramento
run to take a 76-67 lead into halftime. win for the fifth time in six games.
Embiid, who was questionable to play Devin Booker had 27 points, eight re-
because of gastroenteritis, led the bounds and six assists in his return from
charge with 25 points in the first half af- injury for Phoenix. The Suns' losing streak
ter lighting up the Lakers for 28 in the is one shy of the franchise record set
teams' first matchup. last season.
"I must not be a big LA fan," said Em- MAGIC 124, HAWKS 108
biid, who had his league-leading 23rd ATLANTA (AP) — All-Star Nikola Vucevic
game with at least 30 points and 10 re- had 19 points and 2 rebounds, leading Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons, right, of Australia, goes up for the shot
bounds. "It's fun. I've been more consis- Orlando past Atlanta, as he is fouled boy Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, left, during the
tent against both LA teams." Alex Len led the Hawks with 16 points, second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Phil-
Philadelphia's lead ballooned to 109- despite picking up four fouls in the first adelphia. The 76ers won 143-120.
94 at the end of the third quarter after half.q Associated Press