Spurs shut down Sixers in NBA

Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons outscored his fellow Australian Patty Mills in their NBA showdown but it was the latter's San Antonio Spurs that prevailed by 27 points.

Rudy Gay had 21 points and LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan each added 20 as the Spurs trounced Philadelphia 123-96.

Simmons and J.J. Redick each had 16 points to lead the 76ers while Joel Embiid was limited to 13 points on six of 17 shooting.

Mills had eight points in 20 minutes on court as the Spurs closed a six-game home stand at 5-1 to be 16-15 on the season.

Philadelphia are 20-12 to hold on to fourth place in the easter conference.

Giannis Antetokounmpo powered his way to 32 point and 12 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks overcame a triple-double from Blake Griffin to win 107-104 at the Detroit Pistons.

While Griffin finished the game with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists his two missed three-point attempts in the final 14 seconds proved decisive. His 10 turnovers didn't help either.

The Pistons rallied from a 15-point, third-quarter deficit and took an 89-86 lead in the fourth before the Bucks hit back to improve their season record to 20-9 and consolidate second place in the eastern conference.

Paul George scored 24 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 121-96 win over the visiting Chicago Bulls.

Thunder star Russell Westbrook had 13 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists for his 111th career triple-double.

James Harden scored 47 points and carried the load down the stretch once again Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to four games with a 102-97 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and eight other Minnesota players produced double-figure point totals as the Timberwolves defeated the Sacramento Kings 132-105.

Devin Booker's 38 points led the Phoenix Suns to just their seventh win of the season, 128-110 at the New York Knicks.