76ers prevail against LeBron-less Lakers

PHILADELPHIA: Joel Embiid had 26 points and nine rebounds, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 105-87 victory over a Los Angeles Lakers team playing without LeBron James on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Anthony Davis scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Lakers.

The 37-year-old James is day to day with a sore left knee. James is second in the league in scoring at 29.1 points per game, on pace for his highest average since the 2009 to 2010 season, and has scored at least 25 points in 18 straight games.

With James absent, Davis kept the Lakers competitive in his second game back after missing 17 with a sprained left knee. He hurt his right wrist in the first half and needed a quick trip to the locker room to get taped up.

In San Francisco, Stephen Curry rediscovered his 3-point touch after a rough shooting stretch and scored 29 points, Klay Thompson added 23 and Golden State beat Minnesota.

First-time All-Star Andrew Wiggins added 19 points and five rebounds against his former team in Golden State’s 11th straight home win over the Wolves.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 31 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which trailed 97-81 going into the fourth before beginning t h e final period on a 10-0 run to get back in it. Anthony Edwards added 27 points, six rebounds

and six assists.