WEDNESDAY’s OTHER NBA GAMES

Hornets 126, Bucks 121

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Kemba Walker had 26 points, rookie Malik Monk had a huge fourth quarter and the Charlotte Hornets put the clamps on the NBA’s leading scorer to beat the Milwaukee Bucks. Walker was 8 for 12 from the field, including 3 for 4 from 3-point range and 7 for 7 from the foul line as Charlotte won its third straight game. Monk, the team’s first-round draft pick from Kentucky, had 18 of his 25 points in the pivotal fourth quarter to help the Hornets build a double-digit lead with Giannis Antetokounmpo forced to sit out with five fouls.

76ers 119, Hawks 109

PHILADELPHIA

Ben Simmons had 19 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, and Joel Embiid had 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to their third straight win over the Atlanta Hawks. Robert Covington scored 22 points to help the Sixers (4-4) reach .500 for the first time in four years. Dennis Schroder scored 25 points and Taurean Prince had 17 for the woeful Hawks.

Suns 122, Wizards 116

WASHINGTON

T.J. Warren scored 28 of his career-high 40 points in the second half and the Phoenix Suns overcame a 22-point deficit to beat the Washington Wizards. Warren also had 10 rebounds and Devin Booker added 22 points to help the Suns improve to 4-1 under interim coach Jay Triano following an 0-3 start that led to Earl Watson’s firing. Bradley Beal scored a season-high 40 points for Washington, which built the lead to 22 by the second quarter but saw it completely disappear early in the fourth.

Heat 97, Bulls 91

MIAMI

Goran Dragic scored 20 points, Tyler Johnson added 19 and the Miami Heat beat the Chicago Bulls. Hassan Whiteside returned from a five-game absence with a bruised knee and scored 13 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the Heat. Dion Waiters also scored 13 for the Heat, who were without starting forward James Johnson — a late scratch with right knee tendinitis.

Celtics 113, Kings 86

BOSTON

Kyrie Irving and Jaylen Brown each scored 22 points in three quarters, and the Boston Celtics coasted past the skidding Sacramento Kings. It was the Celtics’ 11th consecutive win over the Kings in Boston, dating to their last loss on Jan. 19, 2007. Terry Rozier added 12 points, and Daniel Theis had 10 points with 10 rebounds.

Rockets 119, Knicks 97

NEW YORK

James Harden had 31 points and nine assists, and the Houston Rockets had their 3-pointers falling again in a victory over the New York Knicks. Harden made six 3-pointers and the Rockets hit 19 to bounce back after two straight losses. Ryan Anderson added 21 points for the Rockets. They won their eighth straight at Madison Square Garden, a streak that lasts so long that Mike D’Antoni was the Knicks’ coach last time they beat Houston at home, back on Jan. 26, 2009.

Timberwolves 104, Pelicans 98

NEW ORLEANS

Jimmy Butler hit a go-ahead 20-foot jumper as he was fouled with 34 seconds left to cap off a 23-point performance, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans. Andrew Wiggins scored 18 points for Minnesota, which has won three straight, but nearly blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter. DeMarcus Cousins had 35 points and nine rebounds. Davis had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday added 14 points for New Orleans, which has lost two straight. Taj Gibson had 11 points and 12 rebounds to help the Timberwolves outrebound the Pelicans 47-38. Gorgui Dieng and Nemanja Bjelica scored 12 points apiece as Minnesota shot 49.4 percent (41 of 83).

Magic 101, Grizzlies 99

MEMPHIS, TENN.

Evan Fournier scored 22 points, Aaron Gordon finished with 19 and the Orlando Magic held on to beat the Memphis Grizzlies. The Magic held the lead through much of the fourth quarter before a rally keyed by Tyreke Evans, who finished with 32 points for Memphis, tied the score at 97-all with 1:45 left on a basket by Marc Gasol. However, a 3-pointer from Gordon with 52 seconds remaining put the Magic ahead for good as Memphis missed long-range jumpers from Mario Chalmers and Dillon Brooks in the final 20 seconds.

Associated Press