Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid (21) goes up for a shot against Chicago Bulls’ Nick Richards (13) during the first half.
Matt Slocum | AP Photo
Chicago Bulls’ Patrick Williams, left, and Philadelphia 76ers’ Paul George chase a loose ball during the first half.
Matt Slocum | AP Photo
PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid scored 35 points in his return to the lineup from injury, Paul George had 28 points in his first game since serving a 25-game suspension, and the Philadelphia 76ers rolled to a 157-137 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Josh Giddey scored 23 points to lead the Bulls.
Embiid missed 13 games with a strained right oblique but showed no signs of rust. The 2023 MVP made 6 of 9 shots in the first period, including all three of his 3-point tries. He had 23 points in the first half to help Philadelphia take a 71-52 halftime lead.
George was not as sharp early but settled in after halftime.
Playing for the first time since Jan. 29 due to a violation of the NBA’s drug policy, he missed 8 of 10 field goals in the opening half and had five points, but scored 23 points in the second half.
George was cheered throughout the night, especially after converting on three consecutive possessions early in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia was 13-12 without George, who signed a four-year, $212 million deal with the 76ers before the 2024 season but has been sidelined frequently by injury and suspension. George finished 11 of 22 from the field and 6 of 13 from long range.
Philadelphia still was without All-Star Tyrese Maxey, who missed his 10th straight game due to a right finger tendon strain. Kelly Oubre Jr. (left elbow strain) also was sidelined for the eighth consecutive contest. Oubre has been cleared to return to on-court activities and participated in Wednesday morning’s shootaround, a team spokesperson said before the game.
VJ Edgecome added 22 points for the 76ers.
Lakers 137, Pacers 130
INDANAPOLIS — Luka Doncic scored 43 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a victory over the Indiana Pacers.
With Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark snapping pictures on the sideline as a credentialed photographer, Doncic sank 15 of 30 shots and hit 9 of 10 free throws. Austin Reaves scored 25 points, LeBron James scored 23 and Jaxson Hayes had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles.
The Lakers have won 10 of 11, with Doncic scoring at least 30 points in each. Los Angeles, which sits third in the Western Conference, lost Monday night at Detroit, ending a nine-game winning streak.
Pascal Siakam scored 20 points and Jay Huff had 18 for the Pacers. T.J. McConnell came off the bench to score 17 and Andrew Nembhard had a career-high 19 assists along with 14 points.
The Lakers scored first 10 points and never trailed, building a 29-point lead in the third quarter. The Pacers cut the deficit to 131-124 with 45 seconds left. James responded with two free throws for LA.
Jarace Walker’s 3-pointer trimmed the lead to 133-127 with 28 seconds left, but the Pacers got no closer.
Hawks 130, Pistons 129
DETROIT — CJ McCollum scored 27 points, making the tiebreaking three-point play in overtime, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons.
Jalen Johnson also had 27 points and came close to another triple-double, finishing with 12 assists and eight rebounds.
The surging Hawks improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference, and snapped Detroit’s four-game winning streak.
Jalen Duren had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the first time since All-Star Cade Cunningham sustained a collapsed left lung. Tobias Harris scored 22 points and Daniss Jenkins had 19 points and 10 assists for the East leaders.
Atlanta had a 21-point lead in the first half that Detroit wiped away quickly in the third quarter. McCollum scored the Hawks’ final 11 points of regulation, including a three-point play that gave them a 121-116 lead with 44 seconds remaining. But Detroit rallied again and he missed a jumper that would have won it on the final possession.
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