LOS ANGELES (AP) – LeBron James had 24 points and 14 rebounds in his return from a 17-game injury absence, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Clippers 123-120 in overtime Thursday night after blowing a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead.
James came up one assist shy of a triple-double. He made 5 of 7 free throws and had no fouls in 40 minutes of his first game since Christmas at Golden State when he strained his left groin. The Lakers were 6-11 during the longest absence of his 16-year career.
Tied 118-all, James scored the go-ahead basket in overtime. Lance Stephenson drove for a flailing layup, hitting Boban Marjanovic in the nose with his left elbow while getting fouled. He completed the three-point play that kept the Lakers ahead 123-118.
Avery Bradley and Lou Williams missed on the same possession, and Williams missed a free throw when Stephenson got called for a technical in a tussle with Bradley.
76ERS 113, WARRIORS 104
Joel Embiid had 26 points and 20 rebounds to spoil DeMarcus Cousins’ home debut with the Warriors, and Philadelphia snapped Golden State’s NBA-best 11-game winning streak.
Philadelphia hadn’t won a game in the series in nearly six years. Ben Simmons also scored 26 points and JJ Redick added 15 points for the Sixers, who grabbed 16 offensive rebounds to give them 10 or more in five straight games and 11 of 15.
Stephen Curry scored 41 points with 10 3-pointers to go with six assists, and Cousins contributed seven points, six rebounds and six assists.
BUCKS 105, RAPTORS 92
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 points, Khris Middleton had 18 and Milwaukee beat ended Toronto’s season-best home winning streak at 10 games.
D.J. Wilson scored a career-high 16 points, Eric Bledsoe had 14 and Milwaukee (37-13) wrapped up the season series with its third victory in four meetings with Toronto. The NBA-leading Bucks have a 1 1/2-game lead over the Raptors (37-16) in the Eastern Conference.
