Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid returned from injury to score a game-high 31 points and grab 16 rebounds, powering the 76ers to a 112-108 NBA playoff victory at Brooklyn on Saturday.
Despite a third-quarter incident that saw two players ejected, the 76ers seized a 3-1 lead in the first-round series against the Nets and could advance in the Eastern Conference best-of-seven matchup with a home victory on Tuesday.
In the other Eastern Conference game, Khris Middleton finished with 20 points and nine rebounds as the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks put the Detroit Pistons on the brink of elimination with a 119-103 win. The victory gives the Bucks a 3-0 lead and they can wrap up the series with a win on the road in the Motor City on Monday.
Run of eight points
Philadelphia, down by 10 points early in the third quarter, battled back most of the second half before taking the lead on a run of eight points by Embiid, who missed game three with a sore left knee.
A slam dunk and layup by Embiid gave the 76ers their first late lead at 102-101 but, after an exchange of layups and three-pointers as well as turnovers, fell behind 108-107 on a basket by Brooklyn’s Joe Harris with 25 seconds remaining.
On the next 76er possession, Embiid flipped the last of his seven assists to Mike Scott, whose corner three-pointer put Philadelphia ahead to stay 110-108 with 19 seconds remaining.
Australian Ben Simmons — who added 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the 76ers — stole the ball from Brooklyn’s Jarett Allen and Tobias Harris sank two free throws for the last of his 24 points to clinch the triumph.
Caris LeVert led the Nets with 25 points while Brooklyn had 21 points each from Allen and D’Angelo Russell.
Flagrant foul
Cameroon star centre Embiid was issued a flagrant foul in touching off an altercation 4:18 into the third quarter that saw Philadelphia’s Jimmy Butler and Brooklyn’s Jared Dudley ejected.
In Detroit, Brook Lopez tallied 19 points and had seven rebounds and five blocked shots and Eric Bledsoe scored 19 points for the Bucks.
The Pistons have now lost 13 straight playoff games dating back to 2008.
In the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets — led by game highs of 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists from Serbian playmaker Nikola Jokic — pulled level with San Antonio at 2-2 in their opening series with a 117-103 road triumph over the Spurs.
The series continues with game five Tuesday in Denver.
The results: Brooklyn Nets 108 (Jarret Allen 21, D’Angelo Russell 21) lost to Philadelphia 76ers 112 (Caris LeVert 25). 76ers lead 3-1.
Detroit Pistons 103 (Blake Griffin 27) lost to Milwaukee Bucks 119 (Khris Middleton 20). Bucks lead 3-0.
San Antonio Spurs 103 (LaMarcus Aldridge 24) lost to Denver Nuggets 117 (Nikola Jokic 29, Jamal Murray 24). Series level 2-2.
Utah Jazz 101 (Donovan Mitchell 34) lost to Houston Rockets 104 (James Harden 22). Rockets lead 3-0.