Markkanen, Dunn lead Bulls over Wizards 126-120 in OT

Lauri Markkanen had 32 points and 13 rebounds, Kris Dunn scored a season-high 26 — including eight in overtime — to go with 13 assists, and the short-handed Chicago Bulls beat the fading Washington Wizards 126-120 on Wednesday night.

Markkanen nailed five 3-pointers, including a key shot beyond the arc in overtime.

Shaquille Harrison scored 18, and Cristiano Felicio 15 for the Bulls, who won their second straight after dropping five in a row, despite leading scorer Zach LaVine (bruised right thigh, right knee tendinitis) and Otto Porter Jr. (strained right rotator cuff) not playing because of injuries.

Chicago Bulls coach Jim Boylen gestures during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, March 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Jabari Parker led Washington with 28 points against his former team. Bradley Beal scored 27 and hit the tying jumper in the closing seconds of regulation. But the Wizards lost for the third time in four games.

Tied at 113 through four quarters, the Bulls went on an 8-2 run to start overtime, with Lopez hitting two foul shots and Dunn nailing two 3-pointers. It was 121-117 with a minute left when Dunn missed two free throws.

Beal then missed the first and made the final two free throws after getting fouled on a 3, cutting the lead to two. But Markkanen nailed a 3 from the top of the key to make it 124-119 with 32.3 seconds remaining.

Washington Wizards forward Bobby Portis drives to the basket against Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Parker then put up an airball on the second attempt after making the first free throw, and Dunn hit two foul shots to make it 126-120 with 19.5 seconds left.

The game was the second between the two teams since the deal that sent Otto Porter Jr. to the Bulls for Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis on Feb. 6. The Wizards beat the Bulls134-125 three days later in Chicago, with Beal scoring 31.

TIP-INS

Washington Wizards guardforward Tomas Satoransky, left, passes the ball as Chicago Bulls guard Antonio Blakeney defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Wizards: Portis had 15 points. ... Parker has 10 straight games with 15 or more points.

Bulls: Porter missed his second consecutive game. Coach Jim Boylen said an MRI showed no structural damage, but was not sure when his player will return. Porter expects to return this season from the injury, which occurred during the game at Sacramento on Sunday.

UP NEXT

Washington Wizards forward Bobby Portis dunks against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Wizards: Host Denver on Thursday.

Bulls: Host Utah on Saturday.

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

Washington Wizards guard Chasson Randle, right, drives against Chicago Bulls guard Ryan Arcidiacono during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Washington Wizards forward Jabari Parker, right, guards Chicago Bulls' Wayne Selden Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

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)