sport news NBA ROUNDUP: Jalen Brunson returns with 24 points to propel the Knicks to ... trends now

Jalen Brunson scored 24 points in his return from a left foot injury, leading the New York Knicks to a 116-110 victory over the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

Brunson had 16 points in the first quarter to get the Knicks off to a quick start, then finished strong to help them come back after trailing by 13 in the second half. Brunson had missed five of the last six games and made it through only half the one game he did play because of soreness.

RJ Barrett added 21 points and Julius Randle had 20 for the Knicks, who won their third straight and improved to 42-30, guaranteeing just their second winning record in the last 10 seasons. Robinson grabbed nine rebounds.

Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Nuggets, who lost for the fifth time in six games. Jamal Murray scored 25 points.

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each scored 31 points and Tobias Harris added 24 as Philadelphia routed Indiana to match its season high with an eighth consecutive victory.

In a matchup of teams missing All-Stars - Philadelphia´s James Harden and Indiana´s Tyrese Haliburton - the 76ers shot 61% from the field, led by as many as 24 points and never looked back after overcoming an early eight-point deficit. De´Anthony Melton started in Harden´s place and finished with 14 points, five assists, five rebounds and six steals. Embiid chipped in seven assists and seven rebounds, while Maxey had seven assists.

Aaron Nesmith led the Pacers with 25 points and six rebounds, Andrew Nembhard scored 20 points, and Myles Turner finished with 20 points.

Lauri Markkanen scored 28 points and Walker Kessler had a game-saving block to help Utah to a comeback win over Boston.

Grant Williams, who had 23 points and a career-high seven 3-pointers, was driving for a potential game-winner but ran into Kessler, who blocked his shot just before the final buzzer.

Talen Horton-Tucker had 19 points and Ochai Agbaji added 16 for the Jazz, who overcame a 19-point deficit to win and stay in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.

Jaylen Brown scored 25 points, Malcolm Brogdon had 16 and Jayson Tatum finished with 15, but was shut out in the second half as the short-handed Celtics were playing their third game in four nights. The Celtics made 22 3-pointers, one off their season high, but missed enough down the stretch for the Jazz to pull off the win.

Markelle Fultz scored 12 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, Wendell Carter Jr. had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Orlando snapped its two-game skid with a victory over Los Angeles.

Franz Wagner scored 20 points and hit a

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