sport news NBA ROUNDUP: Celtics victorious in top-4 matchup vs. the 76ers while the ... trends now

The NBA-leading Boston Celtics scrounged enough out of their bench to keep the Philadelphia 76ers at bay in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

With three of the Celtics' regular starters out - and Jaylen Brown soon to join them - Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White scored 19 points apiece to lead Boston to a 106-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

Brown, who missed the previous game with a non-COVID illness, left the game after colliding with Jayson Tatum under the basket when they were both going for an offensive rebound.

Brown appeared to take Tatum´s elbow in the left side of his head. He went to the floor and was slow to get up; when he did, he went straight to the locker room, rubbing his left eye and temple.

The team announced at the start of the third quarter that he had a facial contusion and would not return. After the game, coach Joe Mazzulla said he had no more information, but Brogdon said Brown appeared to be in pain when he left.

'I called him but he didn't answer,' Mazzulla said. 'But I'll get that ASAP. I hope he's OK.'

Tatum had 12 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for Boston, which won for the fourth time in five games to add to the NBA´s best record (39-16). The 76ers (34-19) are second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference, having lost both matchups with the Celtics this season.

Joel Embiid scored 28 points and James Harden added 26 points and 11 assists for the Sixers, who lost their second game in a row. They had won nine of their previous 11.

Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III and Al Horford all missed the game with injuries. Blake Griffin got the start and hit five 3-pointers for a season-high 15 points, and Grant Williams scored 15 points and added eight rebounds.

Kings 130, Rockets 128

De'Aaron Fox had 31 points, including three free throws with less than a second left, to lift the Sacramento Kings to a 130-128 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Fox missed a 3-pointer with .3 seconds left. But Eric Gordon fouled him to set up the game-winning free throws.

'I don't want to belittle it because he was he was amazing, but at the end of the day that´s what he gets paid to do,' coach Mike Brown said. 

'He's an All-Star. He's one of our best players and he's got to be able to make plays for us when we need him to, especially on the road and that's what he did.'

Fox, who added 11 assists, made consecutive baskets to get the Kings within 1 with 42.2 seconds to go.

Jalen Green missed a shot on the other end before the Kings missed three straight shots but grabbed the rebound each time. 

Keegan Murray got the last rebound but Kenyon Martin Jr. battled with him, and a jump ball was called. Houston got the ball on the jump ball with 2.4 seconds to go.

Gordon was fouled after that, but Malik Monk stole the inbound pass from Alperen Sengun to give the Kings the ball with 1.2 seconds left. They called a timeout to set up the final sequence.

Trail Blazers 125, Warriors 122 

Damian Lillard had 33 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers rallied past the Golden State Warriors 125-122 on Wednesday night.

Jordan

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