Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 32 as the Thunder beat the short-handed 76ers 118-102

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points and Jalen Williams had 24 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 118-102 win over a Philadelphia 76ers team missing three All-Stars on Tuesday night.

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George sat out with injuries as the Sixers continued their slide down the Eastern Conference standings.

The Thunder built a 21-point lead and have won 18 of 19 games headed into Thursday's rematch against Cleveland in a matchup of teams with the best records in each conference.

With the stars out, Justin Edwards led the 76ers with 25 points, and Jeff Dowtin Jr. had 18.

Thunder: Gilgeous-Alexander entered the game with a share of the NBA scoring lead at 31.4 points and topped his average with a a pair of late free throws in the fourth that gave him 32. Isaiah Hartenstein had nine points and 16 rebounds.

76ers: Philadelphia is just not a good team when Embiid, George and Maxey don't play. The Sixers have lost three straight games, six of eight and at 15-23 are closer to a spot in the draft lottery than postseason play. Embiid missed his 25th game of the season. Embiid has played in just 13 games this season. The Sixers are 7-6 with Embiid and 8-17 without him.

The Sixers closed within 91-87 in the fourth before Jalen Williams hit a 3 during a late 8-0 run that helped put the game away.

The Thunder shot 70% (14 of 20) from the floor in the first quarter and never trailed in the game.

The Thunder host Cleveland on Thursday. The Cavaliers beat the Thunder 129-122 last week to end OKC’s 15-game winning streak in a matchup of NBA’s top teams. The 76ers host the Knicks on Wednesday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Philadelphia 76ers' Guerschon Yabusele, left, hangs on the rim after a dunk past Oklahoma City Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Guerschon Yabusele, right, dunks past Oklahoma City Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Jeff Dowtin Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., left, goes up for a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder's Jalen Williams during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Luguentz Dort goes up for a dunk during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Eric Gordon, left, goes up for a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder's Luguentz Dort during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Ricky Council IV, center, goes up for a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder's Jaylin Williams, right, and Isaiah Joe during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Cason Wallace, bottom, passes the ball against Philadelphia 76ers' Ricky Council IV, right, and Guerschon Yabusele during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Jalen Williams (8) goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Guerschon Yabusele (28) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, reacts after being fouled during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)