NEW YORK (AP) Joel Embiid scored and rebounded. He blocked shots and even threw the most important pass of the game.

The only thing he didn't do is lose his cool after his hard foul triggered a scuffle.

After having to sit out the last game, there was no way Embiid was going to risk an ejection and miss his chance to help the Philadelphia 76ers seize control of the series.

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SAN ANTONIO (AP) Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 12 rebounds, Jamal Murray added 24 points and the Denver Nuggets beat the San Antonio Spurs 117-103 on Saturday night, rebounding from a flat performance tie the first-round series at two games apiece.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and nine rebounds for San Antonio. DeMar DeRozan added 19 points before he was ejected with five minutes remaining after arguing with an official over an offensive foul.

DETROIT (AP) Blake Griffin started for the Detroit Pistons in Game 3 against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night after missing four of the final six regular-season games and the first two of the playoff series because of a right knee injury.

The Bucks lead the series 2-0, averaging a 28-point margin of victory.

NEW YORK (AP) Jared Dudley didn't like the way Joel Embiid has been delivering fouls.

Jimmy Butler didn't like the way Dudley tried to show it.

Potent offense isn't Houston's only formula for success. The Rockets have taken a 2-0 series lead over Utah by clamping down on the defensive end.

Going into Game 3 against the Jazz on Saturday, Houston has done everything it has needed to do defensively to take control of this first-round series. The Rockets have allowed Utah to score just 94.0 points per game and shoot 39.4 percent from the field in the two losses. The Jazz are just 15-for-65 from 3-point range in that two-game stretch.

As the Los Angeles Clippers and visiting Golden State Warriors prepare for Game 4 in their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Sunday, neither team is putting much stock in what's happened so far.

The Warriors own a 2-1 series lead after their 132-105 win on Thursday night in Los Angeles.

Damian Lillard got the better of Russell Westbrook in the first two games of their Western Conference first-round playoff series, outscoring Westbrook by 21 points.

And, consequently, Lillard's Portland Trail Blazers beat Westbrook's Oklahoma City Thunder twice at home to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Boston Celtics keep following the same game plan.

Three games into their first-round playoff series, it's still working.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) The Toronto Raptors think Pascal Siakam should be selected the NBA's Most Improved Player.

He was their MVP on Friday night.

NEW YORK (AP) The NBA has rescinded technical fouls called on Golden State's Kevin Durant and JaMychal Green of the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.

The players were called for double technicals early in the third quarter Thursday night at Staples Center as they jawed at each other. The Warriors won 132-105 and lead the series 2-1.