76ers 118, Knicks 110

Ben Simmons knows some people want him to shoot more.

The 21-year-old rookie likes to shoot. He just likes rebounding and setting up his teammates just as much.

Joel Embiid had 29 points and 10 rebounds to celebrate his 23rd birthday a day earlier, Simmons finished with a triple-double, and Philadelphia used a big final period to rally past New York on Thursday night.

Embiid doesn't see why his teammate should shy away from a style of play that resulted in his second straight triple-double.

"I think he has to stay himself, he wants to be a pass-first point guard," Embiid said. "Sometimes he needs to be a little bit aggressive, but I don't think anybody should change him. Everybody should let him play the way he wants to."

The Sixers, who hold the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race, trailed by as many as 13 points in the third quarter before storming back in the final period, going on a 20-6 run during the last five minutes of regulation.

Simmons finished with 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. He joined Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as the third rookie in NBA history to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists. The 21-year-old Australian joined the special club when he picked up his fifth assist of the night in the second quarter, setting up Covington's 3-point basket.

His last three assists couldn't have come at a better time, sparking a 6-0 run that led to Philadelphia's impressive comeback.

"I try not to get carried away with what people say," said Simmons, who shot 5 for 11 from the field, hitting his only two attempts in the fourth quarter. "You know, people want me to be a scorer right now, or a player that I am not right now. You know, I can score the ball, but I can also rebound and pass the ball. I rather do that and do what I'm pretty good at than force things."

Dario Saric had 21 points and 12 boards, JJ Redick added 18 points and Robert Covington chipped in 15 for Philadelphia, which was able to rebound from a tough loss Tuesday night to the Indiana Pacers, who currently own the fourth seed in the East.

Michael Beasley had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and Courtney Lee and Trey Burke each contributed 16 points for the Knicks, who have lost a season-high nine straight games and 17 of 18. The Knicks' last win came on Feb. 22 at Orlando.

"I think in the fourth quarter we need to learn how to close out a game," said Enes Kanter, who added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Kyle O'Quinn finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for a New York team that has lost its last eight games at home. The Knicks haven't earned a victory at Madison Square Garden since beating Brooklyn on Jan. 30.

New York led 104-98 on Emmanuel Mudiay's jumper with 5 ½ minutes remaining in the fourth quarter before the 76ers mounted their comeback.

After a Philadelphia timeout, Simmons found Embiid for a driving layup to cut the lead to four points.

A missed hook shot by Kanter led to another assist from Simmons, this time finding Saric for a 3-pointer that cut the deficit for the 76ers, 104-103 with 4:18 left.

The 6-foot-10 Australian point guard then made up for missing a pair of free throws and fed Covington for a 3-pointer with 3:23 left capped an 8-2 run to put the visitors up 106-104. But Lee answered back with a 16-foot jumper to tie it up on the next possession.

Embiid was then fouled and made one of his two free throws to give Philadelphia the lead for good, 107-106 with 2:45 to go before Redick followed it up with a 3-pointer from the corner in front of the Knicks bench.

An errant pass by Beasley on the ensuing possession led to a 3-pointer by Saric behind the right wing to put the game out of reach at 113-106 with just 1:58 left.

Rockets 101, Clippers 96

James Harden scored 24 points, Eric Gordon added 23 and Houston outlasted Los Angeles.

The Clippers scored six straight points, with four from Austin Rivers, to cut the lead to a basket with less than a minute left. But on the next possession, Harden stepped back and knocked down a long 2-pointer with Rivers in his face to make it 100-96.

Rivers missed a 3-pointer after that before Harden made one of two free throws with 6.2 seconds left to secure the victory.

It's Houston's third straight win and snaps a three-game winning streak for the Clippers. The victory, coupled with a loss by the Pelicans to the Spurs, wrapped up the Southwest Division title for the Rockets.

Tobias Harris led the Clippers with 29 points and Rivers had 20.

Bulls 111, Grizzlies 110

Antonio Blakeney made two of three free throws with 1.8 seconds left as Chicago handed Memphis its 19th straight loss.

On the game's final play, Memphis got the ball to Marc Gasol for a baseline fadeaway that was long. JaMychal Green tipped it in but after the horn, although it appeared to be basket interference anyway.

Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 20 points while playing only three quarters, while Bobby Portis scored 17. Denzel Valentine had 15 points, going 5 of 7 from outside the arc.

New London’s Kris Dunn added six points, four assists and two steals for Chicago.

Tyreke Evans had 25 points and nine assists for Memphis, while Gasol added 21 points and 10 rebounds. Jarell Martin scored 15 points and Green finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Trail Blazers 113, Cavaliers 105

CJ McCollum scored 29 points and Portland won its NBA-best 11th straight game with a victory over Cleveland.

Damian Lillard added 24 points for the Blazers, on their longest run since also winning 11 in a row in 2013. It was the Blazers' eighth straight win at home.

LeBron James had 35 points, including a highlight-reel dunk in the first quarter that had the fans at the Moda Center momentarily stunned. He also had 14 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double. Kyle Korver added 19 points.

Raptors 106, Pacers 99

DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 16 points and 17 rebounds, and Toronto rallied late to get past Indiana for its 10th straight victory.

The Raptors need one more win to tie the franchise's longest winning streak. They haven't lost since Feb. 23 and broke a tie with the 2016-17 squad for longest road winning streak, which is now at eight.

But it sure wasn't easy on a night Darren Collison scored 22 points and Al Jefferson had a season-high 20 for Indiana.

Spurs 98, Pelicans 93

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 25 points, Dejounte Murray had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and San Antonio overcame another late rally to beat New Orleans.

New Orleans was playing hours after learning Pelicans owner Tom Benson had died. Benson was hospitalized with the flu on Feb. 16 and never recovered. The 90-year-old native of San Antonio owned both the Pelicans and the Saints.

Anthony Davis finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds, but fouled out after playing 36 minutes. New Orleans fell to sixth in the West.

Nuggets 120, Pistons 113

Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his eighth triple-double of the season, Jamal Murray added 26 points and Denver's playoff hopes received a much-needed boost with a victory over Detroit.

Will Barton hit a big basket down the stretch and later knocked down two free throws to help the Nuggets hold off a Pistons team that trailed by as many as 26 points in the third quarter. The Nuggets now hit the road for a pivotal seven-game trip.

The fading Pistons dropped their 11th straight road game despite Andre Drummond scoring 21 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Blake Griffin added 26 points and nine assists.

Jokic's eight triple-doubles are the most by a Nuggets player in a season since Fat Lever had nine in 1988-89.

Jazz 116, Suns 88

Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points and Rudy Gobert had 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead Utah over Phoenix, its eighth consecutive victory.

Joe Ingles scored 17 points, including four 3-pointers, and Jae Crowder added 12 for the Jazz, who have won 20 of their last 22 games.

T.J. Warren paced Phoenix with 19 points while Josh Jackson had 17 and Devin Booker had 12. The Suns have lost seven in a row.

Ricky Rubio had 12 points and 11 assists, and Dante Exum made his first appearance of the season for the Jazz and finished with 10 points.

Hornets 129, Hawks 117

Dwight Howard scored 20 of his season-high 33 points in the second half, Nicolas Batum had a triple-double and set a career high with 16 assists, and Charlotte beat Atlanta.

Kemba Walker added 24 points and Marvin Williams had 17 for Charlotte, which kept its slim playoff hopes alive. The Hornets began the night having lost six of seven and were in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, 6½ games behind No. 8 Miami with 13 games remaining.

Taurean Prince finished with 22 points and rookie John Collins tied a career high with 21 for Atlanta, the worst team in the East at 20-49.