CJ McCollum sets the Pelicans’ singles 3-point record in defeating the 76ers with ELEVEN

CJ McCollum scored 42 points for a career-high 11 3-pointers, and Zion Williamson added 36 to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 127-116 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

McCollum nailed 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions in a 42-second span in the second quarter, giving the Pelicans a 56-40 lead.

McCollum finished the half 7 of 11 from distance and 11 of 16 for the game.

CJ McCollum (3) attempts a 3-point shot against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half

The Pelicans were 10 of 17 from long range, took a 67-60 lead at halftime and finished 15 of 31 behind the arc.

Williamson scored seven of the Pelicans’ first 10 points in the last quarter as New Orleans extended a 99-91 lead to 119-107 by 5:03. McCollum capped a 7-2 run with a 3-pointer from the right wing.

McCollum’s 11th 3-pointer 2:37 later gave New Orleans a 124-110 lead. McCollum set a franchise record for most 3-pointers in a half with Jonas Valanciunas, Ryan Anderson and Peja Stojakovic.

McCollum (3) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers guard Matisse Thybulle (22)

Joel Embiid finished 14-for-22 shooting with 37 points. He scored 15 of Philadelphia’s first 24 points and had 20 points in the first half on 8-of-9 shooting.

James Harden added 20 points.

The Pelicans forced 13 turnovers in the first half and turned them into 25 points.

McCollum celebrates after breaking the Pelicans’ 3-point record in the singles game against the 76ers

bucks 123, timber wolves 114

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 43 points and 20 rebounds and Milwaukee defeated Minnesota to go on a four-game losing streak.

Antetokounmpo finished two points off his season high and also had five assists to join Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only player in NBA history to have at least 40 points, 20 rebounds and five assists in consecutive games. Chamberlain did it five times and Baylor once, with Chamberlain last doing it on January 6 and 7, 1966.

Antetokounmpo has surpassed 40 points in four of the last six games.

Bobby Portis added 22 points for Milwaukee.

Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 30 points on 10-of-20 shooting. Luka Garza and Jaylen Nowell each had 16 points in the Timberwolves’ fifth straight loss. Minnesota center Rudy Gobert was sidelined with a non-COVID illness and star forward Karl Anthony-Towns did not play because of a strained right calf.

Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo dives past Minnesota Timberwolves’ Luka Garza

NUGGETS 124, HEAT 119

Jamal Murray had seven of his 14 points in the last two minutes, Nikola Jokic had his eighth triple-double of the season and Denver rallied to beat Miami.

Jokic finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists. The two-time reigning NBA MVP was 8 of 15 off the floor, marking his team record for 26 straight games with 50% or more shooting. He has 84th career triple-doubles.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Nuggets with 20 points in 7-of-7 shooting from the floor.

Tyler Herro had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Miami. Bam Adebayo added 22.

Denver Nuggets r Nikola Jokic, left, looks to pass the ball as Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo

RAPTORS 113, SUNS 104

Gary Trent Jr. hit his season-high with 35 points, Pascal Siakam had 26 and Toronto defeated the undermanned and sloppy Phoenix for a fifth home losing streak.

Siakam has scored at least 25 points in seven straight games. Vince Carter made it in February and March 2001 with eight consecutive franchise records.

Chris Paul had 20 points and 12 assists but had six of the Suns’ worst 27 turnovers of the season, leading to 34 points for the Raptors.

Mikal Bridges had 21 points and Torrey Craig had 13 as Phoenix lost for the fifth time in the last six. The Suns played their third straight game without All-Star guard Devin Booker, who is expected to be out for at least four weeks with a strained left groin.

Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr., center, drives against the Phoenix Suns during second half NBA basketball game action in Toronto on Friday, December 30, 2022. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

BULLS 132, PISTONS 118

CHICAGO (AP) — Zach LaVine posted a season-high 43 points and Chicago beat Detroi.

LaVine looked more like his explosive old self than the guy who managed his left knee after off-season surgery. And the Bulls ended the game on a 17-3 run after getting all they could from the team with the worst record in the NBA.

DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points. Nikola Vucevic added 19 points and nine rebounds and the Bulls won for the fifth time in six games.

Jaden Ivey led Detroit by 22 points. The Pistons were down two players, with guard Killian Hayes initiating a three-game suspension for hitting Orlando’s Moritz Wagner in the back of the head on Wednesday and forward Hamidou Diallo serving a one-game penalty.

Chicago Bulls’ Dalen Terry #25 pours water on Zach LaVine #8 after the game against the Detroit Pistons

WIZARD 119, MAGIC 100

Kristaps Porzingis had 30 points and 13 rebounds and Washington led the defeated Orlando to a fourth straight win.

Kyle Kuzma added 23 points and Rui Hachimura had 16 points and seven rebounds. The Wizards played their second straight game without star guard Bradley Beal due to a strained Achilles tendon.

Franz Wagner had 28 points and eight assists for Orlando. The Magic was down to just eight players following suspensions by the NBA following an incident in Detroit on Wednesday night.

Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis (6) goes in for a dunk between Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) and center Bol Bol (10).

KINGS 126, JAZZ 125

Kevin Huerter hit a 3-pointer with 9.2 seconds left and the Sacramento Kings held against Utah 126-125 on Friday night when Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen missed a jumper in the dying seconds.

Huerter scored 30 points to improve Sacramento to 19-15, with coach Mike Brown returning after missing the last two games due to COVID-19. Domantas Sabonis added 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and De’Aaron Fox had 24 points and 10 assists.

Markkanen scored 36 points for Utah (19-19). Jordan Clarkson had 25 points and nine assists and Mike Conley had 17 points.

Kevin Huerter #9 of the Sacramento Kings makes a three point basket in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Golden

WARRIORS 118, SIGNPOSTS 112

Jordan Poole scored 41 points, Klay Thompson hit a key 3-pointer with a 1:36 lead to add 31, and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 118-112 on Friday night to set the league’s best home record at 16: 2 to improve .

Damian Lillard did his best to rally the Trail Blazers after halftime and finished the tournament with 34 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Poole scored his second 40-point game in the last 15 competitions. His 3 points with 2:57 remaining put Golden State within 110-109, but he turned the ball over on the next possession before Jonathan Kuminga put the lead moments later with a two-handed slam.

Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers