Celtics beat Wizards 107-96 to end 4-game slide,

Kyrie Irving had 13 points and 12 assists, Al Horford scored 18 points and the Boston Celtics beat the Washington Wizards 107-96 on Friday night to snap a four-game losing streak.

Marcus Morris added 17 points and nine rebounds, Marcus Smart scored 16 points, and Jaylen Brown added 13. The Celtics won for the first time since the All-Star break to avoid their first five-game skid in more than four years.

Boston held Washington scoreless for more than four minutes in the fourth quarter.

Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris (13) and Washington Wizards forward Trevor Ariza (1) reach for the ball during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 1, 2019, in Boston. (AP PhotoElise Amendola)

Bradley Beal had 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards, and Tomas Satoransky and Jeff Green each had 15 points.

Washington had a 53-46 rebounding advantage, but had 18 turnovers and couldn't overcome a cold stretch in the fourth quarter. The Wizards losing for the fifth time in six games.

Jabari Parker hit a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to pull the Wizards to 82-81, then opened the fourth with a 16-foot jumper.

Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward (20) ducks under the defense of Washington Wizards forward Jabari Parker (12) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 1, 2019, in Boston. (AP PhotoElise Amendola)

The lead didn't last long. After shooting 62.5 percent (15 for 24) in the third quarter, Washington opened the fourth 3 for 11 and went 4:21 without scoring.

Brown scored five points during a 9-3 run that put Boston up 91-86.

TIP-INS

Boston Celtics forward Daniel Theis, left, reaches for the ball in a steal attempt against Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 1, 2019, in Boston. (AP PhotoElise Amendola)

Wizards: Entered the game three games back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. ... Beal had 10 points in the first quarter to account for half of Washington's scoring. ... Beal averaged 30.9 points in February while shooting 52.2 percent from the field. ... The Wizards didn't get a field goal until Beal's dunk with 6:16 left in the first quarter.

Celtics: Haven't lost five straight since Nov. 21-Dec. 2, 2014. ... C Aron Baynes (foot contusion) missed his 11th straight game.

UP NEXT

Washington Wizards guard Tomas Satoransky (31) passes the ball under pressure from Boston Celtics center Al Horford as Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (11) defends during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 1, 2019, in Boston. (AP PhotoElise Amendola)

Wizards: Host Minnesota on Sunday night.

Celtics: Host the Houston Rockets on Sunday.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (11) makes a move against Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant as Celtics coach Brad Stevens, left, watches during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 1, 2019, in Boston. (AP PhotoElise Amendola)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)