By ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 21 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in his second triple-double of the season, and the Los Angeles Lakers extended the Philadelphia 76ers’ miserable start with a 116-106 victory Friday night, Nov. 8.
Anthony Davis scored 31 points, Austin Reaves had 20 and D’Angelo Russell added 18 as a reserve for the Lakers, who remained unbeaten at home this season in their return from a 1-4 trip.
James secured his 114th career triple-double early in the fourth quarter.
Paul George scored nine points for the Sixers, who dropped to 1-7 while playing without two of their top three players. Rookie Jared McCain had 18 points for Philadelphia, which has lost five straight.
Former league MVP Joel Embiid served the second game of his three-game suspension for shoving a reporter, while All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey missed his first game with the hamstring injury that will sideline him for at least two weeks.
Bronny James played the final 1:28.
In San Antonio, Keldon Johnson and Malaki Branham had 17 points each and the Spurs beat Portland, 118-105, in their fourth game without coach Gregg Popovich.
Popovich has been out since having a medical episode Saturday before a home game against Minnesota. Prior to the game Thursday, Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson said the team is unsure when Popovich will return.
Zach Collins and Julian Champagnie added 14 points each to help the Spurs snap a two-game skid. Victor Wembanyama had 12 points. Branham exited two minutes into the fourth quarter after rolling his right ankle.
Norman Powell posted his first career double-double with 31 points and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Sacramento Kings, 107-98, for their third straight win.
James Harden added 22 points for the Clippers, who led nearly the entire way. They took a 78-73 lead into the fourth quarter and began the period with a 16-5 run.
Kevin Porter Jr. scored nine points in the fourth and Los Angeles withstood a late push by the Kings, who cut the deficit to four with under three minutes left.
De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 31 points. Domantas Sabonis added 23 points and 12 rebounds.
In Denver, Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds for his third straight triple-double to lead the Nuggets past the Miami Heat, 135-122.
The triple-double was Jokic’s NBA-best fifth of the season.
After missing the past three games in concussion protocol, Jamal Murray had 28 points and became the first player in Nuggets franchise history with 1,000 career 3-pointers.
The Heat played most of the game without Jimmy Butler, who turned his ankle on a drive against Murray seven minutes into the game and did not return.
In Minneapolis, Anthony Edwards hit nine 3-pointers and scored 37 points to help the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 127-102.
The nine 3s on 15 attempts were one short of a career high for Edwards, who scored 33 when Minnesota rallied past the Bulls in Chicago on Thursday. He added six rebounds and five assists as the Wolves dominated the Trail Blazers from the start.
Julius Randle scored 22 points and Rudy Gobert had eight points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for Minnesota, which won its third straight.
Scoot Henderson led the Blazers with 16 points. Anfernee Simons had 14 and Robert Williams III added 13 points.
