Thursday’s Other NBA Games

Celtics 108, 76ers 97

BOSTON

Kyrie Irving scored 36 points and the Boston Celtics held off the weary and short-handed Philadelphia 76ers to improve the NBA’s best record to 19-4. It was Irving’s fifth game this season with 30 or more points. Al Horford added 21 points and eight rebounds, and Marcus Morris had 17 points as the Celtics bounced back from Monday night’s home loss to Detroit with their ninth victory in 11 games. Boston led by five at the end of the third quarter but started the fourth by connecting on seven of its first 11 shots to increase the margin to 95-82. Dario Saric led Philadelphia with 18 points. JJ Redick finished with 17 and Ben Simmons had 15. It was the third game in four nights for the 76ers, who have lost two of three. Saturday’s game against Detroit will conclude a week featuring matchups with the East’s three top teams. Philadelphia played without center Joel Embiid, who continues to rest on the second night of back-to-backs. With Embiid out, Celtics coach Brad Stevens went with a bigger lineup, starting Aron Baynes in place of Morris.

Nuggets 111, Bulls 110

DENVER

Will Barton capped a career-high 37 points with a driving layup with 3.2 seconds left and the Denver Nuggets overcame the loss of Nikola Jokic to beat the Chicago Bulls. Gary Harris added 21 points, and Kenneth Faried had 14 points and 13 rebounds for Denver. Jokic went down in with 44 seconds left in the second quarter when he drove to the basket and stepped on Jerian Grant’s foot. Jokic hit two free throws before heading to the locker room with an obvious limp. He didn’t return in the second half. Lauri Markanen and Robin Lopez had 20 points each for Chicago, and Kris Dunn added 19.

Associated Press