LeBron James shines for 76ers in win vs Bulls; Antetokounmpo helps Heat beat Kings

LeBron James had five assists and 22 points as Philadelphia 76ers beat Chicago Bulls 127-121. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

LeBron James had his best game yet for the Philadelphia 76ers, which bounced back with a 127-121 win in Chicago on Sunday over Chicago Bulls that has now lost seven straight NBA games.

Veteran superstar James scored 22 points — his highest tally since joining the Sixers this summer — and a return to form after a paltry eight points in Friday’s disappointing loss to Cleveland.

James also had five assists while Jaylen Brown top-scored with 29, Tyrese Maxey poured in 27, and Joel Embiid pulled down 10 rebounds.

The star-studded Sixers have lost just twice so far this season, for their best start after 11 games since 2000.

Philadelphia grabbed the lead early in the second quarter and never trailed from there, though a resilient Chicago pulled within two points in the closing stages.

The Bulls remain joint-bottom of the Eastern Conference with the Milwaukee Bucks -- the only team Chicago has beaten so far this campaign.

They were without shooting guard Norman Powell, their second-leading scorer this season, who was placed on the injury report hours before tip-off with back discomfort.

But Josh Giddey provided some hope with a double-double, including 19 points and 15 assists.

Meanwhile, James’ former Los Angeles Lakers team overcame the absence of red-hot talisman Luka Doncic to beat the Detroit Pistons 121-116, and also moved to 9-2.

Doncic, who has been averaging more than 40 points per game this season, was left out with lower back tightness, the team announced.

Austin Reaves stepped up, scoring 43 points, including two calm free throws in the final seconds to take the game beyond Detroit’s reach.

The Lakers never trailed but had to fight hard to retain a razor-thin lead for most of the fourth quarter.

Daniss Jenkins led the Pistons’ comeback attempt from the bench with 31 points, while Kevin Huerter added 24.

The Charlotte Hornets announced that forward Kon Knueppel will miss at least four weeks with a left hamstring strain, while guard Dennis Schroder is out for at least two weeks with the same injury.

Antetokounmpo scores 29 points to lead the Heat to a 114-108 win over the struggling Kings

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists in the Miami Heat’s 114-108 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Antetokounmpo made 14 of 23 shots from the field and added three assists and two blocks.

Klay Thompson had 23 points, including seven 3-pointers, for the Heat (4-6), and Bam Adebayo added 18 points and eight rebounds.

Darius Acuff Jr. had 32 points and 10 assists for the Kings (1-9), who have not won a home game.

The game was tied at 55-all until the Heat went on a 13-4 run, capped by two free throws by Adebayo at the 55-second mark of the second quarter. The Heat led 68-59 at the half. Adebayo, Antetokounmpo, and Davion Mitchell combined for 41 of the Heat’s first-half points.

The Heat got the lead up to 16 points in the third quarter, before the Kings surged back to tie the game at 95 on two free throws by De’Andre Hunter at the 6:12 mark of the fourth.

The Heat regained the lead and outscored the Kings 19-13 the rest of the way for the victory.

Domantas Sabonis did not play for the Kings due to left knee soreness.

The Kings announced that the team traded second-year wing Nique Clifford to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In return, the Kings received Utah’s 2028 second-round draft pick and Minnesota’s 2030 second-round draft pick.

Clifford was selected in the first round (24th overall pick) of the 2025 NBA draft by the Thunder, who traded his draft rights to the Kings.