Masked Embiid scores 34 in return to lift 76ers

Joel Embiid had 34 points and nine assists after missing a game because of a sinus fracture to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 108-98 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.

Wearing a protective “Phantom of the Opera” mask, Embiid was introduced to a roaring ovation.

He scored 22 points in the first three quarters to lead the 76ers to their fourth win in five games. Philadelphia is still well under .500 at 9-16, but a recent hot streak has it at least within striking distance of a play-in tournament berth.

Embiid has been ravaged by injuries this season and has only played in seven games, mostly due to knee soreness.

Vasilije Micic led the Hornets with 20 points, who lost their fourth straight and 12th in 13 games.

Charlotte held out leading scorer LaMelo Ball as the team manages his injured left calf.

Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points and Paul George had five points and 10 rebounds. The heralded Big Three of All-Stars Embiid, Maxey and George started a game together for only the fourth time this season.

Maxey hit four 3s and the 76ers shot 56% overall from the floor in the first quarter to race to an 18-point lead.

“no one cared who I was until I put on the mask.” pic.twitter.com/EtcxJfbIpz

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 21, 2024

Red-hot Thunder down Heat

Jalen Williams scored a season-high 33 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 25 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Miami Heat 104-97 for their seventh consecutive victory.

Lu Dort scored 14 points and Isaiah Hartenstein had 13 and 18 rebounds for the Thunder, who improved to 22-5 - the second-best record in the NBA and tops in the Western Conference.

Oklahoma City's winning streak is alive because the NBA Cup final - a loss Tuesday night to Milwaukee in Las Vegas - doesn't count as a regular-season game.

Tyler Herro had 28 points and 12 rebounds for Miami, which got 17 points and 10 rebounds from Bam Adebayo.

The Heat lost Jimmy Butler to illness in the first quarter and briefly lost Adebayo in the third quarter when he got elbowed over an eye by teammate Jaime Jaquez Jr. Adebayo needed seven stitches but returned.

Oklahoma City trailed by three midway through the third quarter, then went on a 10-0 run to kickstart a finishing push. The Thunder were up 11 entering the fourth.

Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 25 points in 17 consecutive games, the longest such streak in the NBA this season.

Closed out the roadtrip together and with a dub pic.twitter.com/XLn1JOpmBz

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 21, 2024

Cavs roll past Bucks

Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points, Darius Garland added 16 and the Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 15-1 at home with a 124-101 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, who played for the first time since winning the NBA Cup.

Cleveland is 3-0 this season against Milwaukee, which was without All-Star guard Damian Lillard because of a strained calf.

Evan Mobley scored 15 and Cleveland made 20 3-pointers while pushing its league-best record to 24-4.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points and 14 rebounds for the Bucks, who may need a couple more days to shake off their collective hangover after winning the Cup on Tuesday in Las Vegas.

With Lillard sidelined, the Bucks were missing their second-best player and 25.7 points per game. Milwaukee's starting guards - Andre Jackson Jr. and AJ Green - shot a combined 0 of 9.

Cleveland’s Max Strus made his season debut after being sidelined with an ankle injury and finished with nine points in 19 minutes.

Rudolph with your nose so bright, saw the Cavs win tonight. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/fVLYsBFdID

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 21, 2024