Eastern Conference Recaps, Feb. 23: Joel Embiid, James Harden Help 76ers Rally From 17 In Win Against Grizzlies

The Philadelphia 76ers rallied from a 17-point deficit for a 110-105 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies 110-105. James Harden led the 76ers with 31 points and Joel Embiid had 27 points and a season-high 19 rebounds. When Ja Morant struggled, Desmond Bane scored 25 points for the Grizzlies and Jaren Jackson had 18.

NEXT 76ERS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Feb. 27 in Philadelphia

NEXT GRIZZLIES GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Mar. 15 at Miami

OTHER NOTES:

The NBA-best Boston Celtics started the second half of the season with a victory but it didn’t come easy.

Jayson Tatum tipped in a miss by Marcus Smart to help the Celtics to a 142-138 overtime victory against the Indiana Pacers.

“It had a playoff-like atmosphere, we had to withstand some runs, we had to adjust, we had to execute and make plays,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I liked the fact we had to go through that. You have to win games like that and you have to be in games like that."

Tatum finished with 31 points and 12 rebounds and Jaylen Brown had 30 points and 11 rebounds upon his return from a facial injury.

Myles Turner led the Pacers with 40 points, tying his career-high. Tyrese Haliburton had 22 points and 14 assists and rookie Bennedict Mathurin had 19 points.

-Wendell Carter’s buzzer-beating tip-in on Paolo Banchero’s missed layup lifted the Orlando Magic a 108-106 victory against the Detroit Pistons. He had 14 points and 14 rebounds but it was Franz Wagner who led the Magic with 21 points.

Rookie Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with 25 points and Alec Burks had 16 off the bench.

NEXT MAGIC GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Mar. 11 in Orlando

NEXT PISTONS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Mar. 19 in Detroit

-All five Denver Nuggets starters scored in double-figures in a 115-109 victory Cleveland Cavaliers 115-109. Michael Porter led the way with 25 points and Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists.

Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 31 points and Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland had 22.

NEXT CAVALIERS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Mar. 8 at Miami

-Pascal Siakam’s 26 points led the Toronto Raptors to a 115-110 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. Jakob Poeltl had 21 points and a career-high 18 rebounds while Gary Trent and Scottie Barnes had 18 points.

Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with a season-high 36 points and CJ McCollum had 23.

NEXT RAPTORS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Mar. 28 in Toronto

Cory Nelson is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson. You can also check out his personal blog HERE.