Jayson Tatum continued to shine in his return from injury with 25 points and Jaylen Brown also scored 25 to help the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-100 on Friday night and take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series.
Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
Tatum was 5 of 9 on 3-pointers in just his 19th game this season following surgery last May to repair his Achilles tendon. Brown scored eight straight points late in the fourth for a 96-92 lead that put some distance between them and a Sixers team brimming with confidence following a surprise Game 2 win in Boston.
Tatum buried a 3 for a 100-96 lead and Payton Pritchard hit a step-back 3 to make it 103-98. Tatum, still looking to regain his top form after not playing for nearly a year, may just be there and hit the final 3-point dagger for the 106-100 lead that even sent Allen Iverson headed toward the exit.
Philadelphia played again without center Joel Embiid for Game 3 as he continues to ease his way back into practice following an appendectomy on April 9.
Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points and Paul George added 18.
LAKERS 112, ROCKETS 108, OT
HOUSTON (AP) — LeBron James scored 29 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, Marcus Smart had eight points in overtime and Los Angeles took advantage of Houston team missing Kevin Durant for a win to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
The Lakers rallied from a six-point deficit with under 30 seconds remaining and can sweep the series Sunday night in Houston.
Smart added 21 points and 10 assists, and Rui Hachimura added 22 points for the Lakers.
Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 33 points and 16 rebounds. Amen Thompson added 26 points and 11 rebounds.
SPURS 120, TRAIL BLAZERS 108
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Stephon Castle had 33 points and San Antonio overcame the absence of Victor Wembanyama to beat Portland for a 2-1 series lead.
Dylan Harper added 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who trailed by 15 points in the third quarter. Game 4 of the first-round series Sunday at the Moda Center.
Before the game Spurs coach Mitch Johnson announced that Wembanyama would not play while he continues to recover from a concussion he sustained in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
Jrue Holiday had 29 points for the Trail Blazers, who were making their first home playoff appearance since 2021, but couldn’t ultimately take advantage Wembanyama’s absence.
Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum, left, goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Adem Bona during the second half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Friday, April 24, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Stephon Castle had 33 points and the San Antonio Spurs overcame the absence of Victor Wembanyama to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-108 on Friday night for a 2-1 series lead.
Dylan Harper added 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who trailed by 15 points in the third quarter. Game 4 of the first-round series Sunday at the Moda Center.
Before the game Spurs coach Mitch Johnson announced that Wembanyama would not play while he continues to recover from a concussion he sustained in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
Jrue Holiday had 29 points for the Trail Blazers, who were making their first home playoff appearance since 2021, but couldn't ultimately take advantage Wembanyama's absence.
Portland led 82-67 in the third quarter but the Spurs clawed back with a 21-5 run to take an 88-87 lead into the final period. Castle's step-back jumper and a pair of free throws gave the Spurs a 105-95 lead midway through the fourth and the Trail Blazers collapsed.
Wembanyama — the league’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and one of three finalists for the Most Valuable Player award — went down in the second quarter of the Spurs' 106-103 Game 2 loss in San Antonio.
Johnson would not elaborate on Wembanyama's condition, only to say he was progressing. He averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-best 3.1 blocks per game this season. His status for Sunday's game was not known.
Luke Kornet started against the Trail Blazers as Wembanyama’s watched from the banch, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Portland went on a 15-2 run in the first half to go up 50-43 and led 65-59 at the break after Jerami Grant's 3-pointer.
In the final moments of the half Fox was handed an offensive foul when he charged toward the basket and elbowed Deni Avdija in the face. Johnson challenged the call and it was overturned to a defensive foul on Avdija, who had a chipped a tooth but kept playing.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) shoots against Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (35) during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in Portland, Ore, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) reacts after scoring against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in Portland, Ore, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson reacts to a play during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) drives against Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in Portland, Ore, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet, center, and Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan, right, battle for control of the ball during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in Portland, Ore, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
