CHICAGO (AP) — Jalen Smith sparked a game-ending run with a thunderous dunk on Joel Embiid, and the Chicago Bulls matched a season high with their fifth straight win, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 109-102 on Friday night.
The Bulls scored the final 10 points of the game, starting with Smith’s driving dunk. Tre Jones and Zach Collins each had 15 points, and Coby White scored 13, helping the Bulls match their best streak since a 5-0 start. They also evened their record at 15-15.
Embiid led Philadelphia with 31 points. Tyrese Maxey scored 27 and had five 3-pointers. Paul George shook off a slow start to finish with 15 points and a season-high 12 rebounds, but the 76ers lost for the fourth time in as many games this season with their three stars in the lineup.
The Sixers led 102-99 after Embiid backed in with 2:45 remaining, but that was all the scoring for them. Smith then drove the baseline and dunked on a rotating Embiid with about 2:30 remaining, bringing the crowd to its feet.
White then nailed a step back 3, drawing more roars, and Jones hit a reverse layup. After a driving Maxey got blocked by Nikola Vucevic, Jones tracked down a loose ball and laid it in with 47 seconds left. He added a free throw with 17 seconds remaining.
Embiid, who has missed 15 games mainly due to right knee soreness, scored 16 points as the cold-shooting Sixers grabbed a 52-49 halftime lead.
Philadelphia made just 3 of 15 3-pointers and was 19 of 50 from the field through the first two quarters. Even so, the Sixers went from leading 13-2 to trailing by 11 early in the second to taking a three-point advantage to the locker room.
76ers: Visit Oklahoma City on Sunday.
Bulls: Host Milwaukee on Saturday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Philadelphia 76ers' Jabari Walker, center, battles Chicago Bulls' Zach Collins (12) and Jalen Smith, right, for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Philadelphia 76ers' VJ Edgecombe dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Chicago Bulls' Josh Giddy battles Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George (8) for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — England has fought back to bowl Australia out for 132 in its second innings after lunch on Day 2 of the fourth Ashes test on Saturday.
On a Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch offering substantial sideways movement for pace bowlers, England will be chasing a target of 175 to win after 30 wickets have fallen in 4 1-2 sessions.
Resuming on Saturday on 4-0, an overall lead of 42, Australia staggered to lunch at 98-6.
The dismissal of opener Travis Head (46) was quickly followed by the departures of Usman Khawaja (0) and Alex Carey (4) in the next two overs as Australia slumped from 82-3 to 88-6 in the morning session.
Ben Stokes (3-24) claimed the important wicket of Cameron Green (19) after lunch, caught at second slip, and Brydon Carse sliced through the tail to finish with 4-34.
Australia held an overall lead of 46 Friday after scoring 152, running through England for 110, then reaching 4-0 in a dramatic first day
England lost each of the first three tests to allow Australia to retain the Ashes in just 11 days of on-field action.
Josh Tongue claimed a career-best 5-45 to lead England’s bowling attack Friday before Michael Neser grabbed 4-45 for Australia.
It was the first time since December 1951 that 20 wickets had fallen on a day of test cricket in Australia.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said Saturday “short tests are bad for business," and said CA would consider a hands-on role in pitch preparation in the future.
“It’s hard not to get more involved when you see the impact on the sport, particularly commercially,” Greenberg told SEN Radio. “I’m really hoping we get to day three because there will be a lot of money at stake.”
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
England's Brydon Carse, left, grabs the ball for a caught and bowled on Australia's Michael Neser, right, on Day 2 of their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
Australia's Steve Smith watches the ball while batting against England on Day 2 of their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
England's Ben Duckett bats against Australia on Day 2 of their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
England's Ben Stokes, right, celebrates with teammates after taking Australia's final wicket of their second innings on Day 2 of their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
England's Brydon Carse celebrates the wicket of Australia's Mitchell Starc on Day 2 of their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
Fans of the England cricket team, known as the Barmy Army, wave flags on Day 2 of the Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Melbourne, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
Australia's Jake Weatherald his bowled by England's Ben Stokes on Day 2 of their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
England's Josh Tongue, second left, celebrates with teammates after the wicket of Australia Usman Khawaja on Day 2 of their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
Australia's Travis Head walks off after he is bowled by England's Brydon Carse on Day 2 of their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
England's Josh Tongue, right, celebrates with teammate Jacob Bethell after the wicket of Australia Usman Khawaja on Day 2 of their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
