Basketball

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder created the kind of momentum they wanted to take into the All-Star break. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points to help the Thunder roll past the Houston Rockets 133-96 on Wednesday night.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 29 points — including the 10,000th of his career — and the Philadelphia 76ers survived a rocky second half to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-112 on Wednesday night.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jaren Jackson had 26 points, nine rebounds and four blocks and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Utah Jazz 117-111 on Wednesday night in the last game for both teams before the All-Star break.

ATLANTA (AP) — Jalen Brunson is on quite a streak. The New York Knicks are confident it's no fluke.

BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics got back their offensive and defensive spark plugs. Together, they gave Boston the jolt it needed to head into the All-Star break on track to accomplish all its goals this season.

NEW YORK (AP) — In his third game since arriving in the Kevin Durant trade, Mikal Bridges had an electrifying scoring stretch to rival even the superstar he replaced.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Buddy Hield made six 3-pointers in the second half and finished with 27 points, helping the Indiana Pacers rally from a 24-point deficit after the first quarter and defeat the Chicago Bulls 117-113 on Wednesday night.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

DENVER (AP) — Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving was ruled out Wednesday night against the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets due to tightness in his lower back. It's the last game for the Mavericks before the All-Star break.

Toronto's Jully Black will sing "O Canada" at the NBA All-Star Game. The Juno Award winning and platinum-selling R&B singer was named to the star-studded show on Wednesday. Black joins Burna Boy, Jewel, Post Malone and others in the festivities.