MORANT, GRIZZLIES BEAT NUGGETS IN MATCHUP OF WEST LEADERS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)

— Ja Morant had 23 points and seven rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies raced to an early lead and coasted to a 112-94 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night in a matchup of the Western Conference’s top teams.

Tyus Jones finished with 17 points, and Luke Kennard, Xavier Tillman and Dillon Brooks scored 12 apiece for Memphis, which trails Denver by six games in the conference race.

Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Jeff Green added 12 points.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Christian Braun each scored 11 points as Denver’s four-game winning streak came to an end. Denver was hampered by a 40% shooting game. The Nuggets’ starters were 17 of 47 from the field in the game.

Denver’s 94 total points was a season low.

CELTICS 110, 76ERS 107

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

— Jayson Tatum buried a go-ahead 3-pointer for Boston with 1.3 seconds left, Joel Embiid didn’t get his desperation heave off in time to tie and the Celtics held on to beat Philadelphia.

Tatum finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and Derrick White added 18 for the Celtics.

Embiid finished with 41 points and 12 rebounds.

James Harden scored 21

KLAY FROM PAGE 14 coming from long range — and helped Golden State get rolling beginning the second on a 18-5 burst to build a 44-31 lead. Two off his career best for 3-pointers and four points shy of his season high, Thompson sat down for good to a roaring ovation with 1:41 remaining.

“He was brilliant tonight and it’s just so great to see him now at the point where he can do this,” said coach Steve Kerr, who challenged Thompson to be a better rebounder. “I’m really happy for Klay, he’s put in the work. I really loved the fact he got seven rebounds.” found Lopez for the goahead layup.

The Warriors had lost two straight and four of five, but won their sixth of seven at home.

Holiday said he initially expected Middleton to shoot the ball. “It’s a great play,” Holiday said.

“At first, I kind of saw it, but I thought that Khris was going to shoot it because that’s just what ‘K’ does. But he’s a playmaker. He’s not just a scorer.” Phoenix called a timeout and went back to Booker, who lost possession as Holiday forced the steal and

Lopez got the loose ball. “That’s just the defender he is, the player he is,” Lopez said of Holiday.

“He’s one of the top twoway players in the league, at least the top three. Just absolutely phenomenal. Just the best two-way player in the league.

“Those are the plays he makes just time and time again.” Booker said there was contact on the play, but no foul was called, a reflection of the game’s physical nature.

“I was touched,” Booker said. “But I did the same thing to Jrue on the other end. On that play, he hit my arm. But it’s playofftype basketball and refs are going to let things go. And that was that.”

Joe Ingles made the first of two free throws to extend Milwaukee’s lead to 103-100 with 11.3 seconds left. Ingles missed the second free throw and the ball initially was ruled out of bounds on Milwaukee.

But after Budenholzer challenged the call, replays determined the ball actually went out on Phoenix’s Terrence Ross. Holiday sank the first of two free throws with 10 seconds left but also missed the second, making the score 104-100.

Booker was fouled on a 3 by Ingles with 0.9 seconds left but missed the first free throw. Booker made the second and intentionally missed the third, but Lopez got the rebound to seal the victory.