Basketball

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Anfernee Simons hit five 3-pointers and scored 25 points in the largest blowout victory in Portland Trail Blazers history, a 141-88 romp over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Keyonte George scored 30 points and Lauri Markkanen added 23 points and 10 rebounds to rally the Utah Jazz to a 124-115 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid got benched and the 76ers got beat at the horn.

DENVER (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 32 points in his best game by far with the Lakers, leading Los Angeles to a 123-100 runaway win at Denver on Saturday night that snapped the Nuggets' nine-game winning streak.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Damian Lillard won’t be available for Friday’s game with the Washington Wizards as the Milwaukee Bucks play for a second straight night.

DENVER (AP) — Michael Malone took a pragmatic stance on his team's current nine-game winning streak. “It beats the alternative,” the Denver Nuggets coach said. Can't argue there as Malone stands on the brink of a memorable career moment.

Former NBA player Michael Carter-Williams is hoping to get a WNBA franchise in Boston whether it's through expansion or being a destination for a current team that wants to move.

The French sports newspaper L’Equipe published a photo of Victor Wembanyama across the entirety of its front page on Friday, the San Antonio star looking down with his hands on his hips. “Coup D’Arret” was the headline in big, white letters.

Phoenix Suns (26-29, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (22-34, 10th in the Eastern Conference) Chicago; Saturday, 5 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix will look to stop its five-game road losing streak when the Suns take on Chicago.

Charlotte Hornets (14-40, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (23-33, 13th in the Western Conference) Portland, Oregon; Saturday, 10 p.m.