Basketball

PHOENIX (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs were flailing in the fourth quarter Thursday night, struggling to find their footing after the Phoenix Suns erased a 27-point lead and threatened to finish an epic comeback victory.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid envisioned winning an NBA championship with James Harden at his side. Embiid has a new idea of how to win one with the 76ers — play his former teammate and the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA Finals.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — CJ McCollum says he enjoys basketball too much to allow fatigue or a thrown-off routine to stop him from doing what he can to carry the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans through back-to-back games.

Atlanta Hawks (3-2, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (4-1, fourth in the Western Conference) New Orleans; Saturday, 7 p.m.

Utah Jazz (2-4, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-2, ninth in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Utah visits Minnesota in Western Conference action Saturday.

Los Angeles Lakers (3-2, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (3-2, fourth in the Eastern Conference) Orlando, Florida; Saturday, 7 p.m.

Sacramento Kings (2-2, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (1-3, 14th in the Western Conference) Houston; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento travels to Houston for a Western Conference matchup.

Phoenix Suns (2-3, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (3-1, second in the Eastern Conference) Philadelphia; Saturday, 1 p.m.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 30 points, making the deciding layup with 14 seconds left, in the Orlando Magic’s 115-113 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.

PHOENIX (AP) — Rookie Victor Wembanyama scored a season-high 38 points, Zach Collins added 19 and the San Antonio Spurs held off Phoenix’s late charge to beat the Suns 132-121 on Thursday night.