LeBron James had his best game yet for the Philadelphia 76ers, who bounced back with a 127-121 win in Chicago on Sunday over a Bulls side who have now lost seven straight NBA games, while the Boston Celtics routed the Milwaukee Bucks 117-97 to move to 8-2.
James led the 76ers to victory at the United Center, according to Flashscore and Field Level Media, as Philadelphia improved their record and Chicago’s miserable run continued. The Bulls remain joint-bottom of the Eastern Conference with the Bucks — the only team Chicago have beaten so far this campaign.
In Milwaukee, Paul George scored 27 points and Jayson Tatum added 21 as Boston overcame a slow start to beat the Bucks, who have now lost six in a row.
LeBron’s best in Philadelphia
James’ performance in Chicago was his best since joining the 76ers, and it came at the perfect time. Philadelphia had lost their previous game and needed a win to steady their season, and their veteran leader delivered.
The Bulls, meanwhile, are in freefall. Seven straight defeats, joint-bottom of the East, and a roster that looks short of answers. Chicago’s only win of the season came against Milwaukee — the team they are now tied with at the bottom — and the Bulls’ season is already in danger of slipping away.
Celtics cruise in Milwaukee
Boston’s win in Milwaukee was equally emphatic. George hit five of 10 from three-point range, Tatum knocked down five of 11 from downtown and dished six assists, and the Celtics notched their third straight win — their second since Wednesday over the Bucks.
Kyle Kuzma scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half for Milwaukee, connecting on six of 13 three-point attempts, but no other Bucks player had more than 15 points as their spiral continued. Milwaukee fall to 1-9, with the future of the organisation, as Flashscore put it, “certainly unclear”.
Around the league
Elsewhere on Sunday, the Dallas Mavericks demolished the Brooklyn Nets 130-93, led by Cooper Flagg with 25 points and 12 assists, with Kyrie Irving adding 21 points. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Utah Jazz 115-100, and the Los Angeles Clippers picked up a big win over the New Orleans Pelicans 139-123, with Darius Garland and Brook Lopez combining for 44 points.
Monday brings eight more NBA games, including the Lakers at Atlanta at 7pm ET, the Spurs at Phoenix at 9pm ET and the Pelicans at Golden State at 10pm ET.
Read more: Reaves Scores 43 as Lakers Beat Pistons 121-116 Without Doncic ; Gilgeous-Alexander Scores 30 as Thunder Crush Wizards 114-75
