The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Nickeil Alexander-Walker was voted the NBA’s 2026 Most Improved Player on Friday, beating out finalists Deni Avdija and Jalen Duren to become the second Hawks player to win the award in two years.

It was, by far, the best statistical season of Alexander-Walker’s career after Dyson Daniels won the trophy last season.

“I’m glad I love this game so much,” Alexander-Walker said. “I don’t know where I’d be without it. Glad that I had people who believed in me when I didn’t, and when they say it takes a village, I used every single person in mine.”

He scored a career-best 20.8 points per game, more than doubling his average from his first six pro seasons. He shot a career-best 46% and also averaged more assists (3.7), rebounds (3.4) and steals (1.3) than ever before.

Celtics beat Sixers

PHILADELPHIA — Jayson Tatum continued to impress in his return from injury, scoring 25 points to help the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-100 on Friday night.

Jaylen Brown also scored 25 points, giving Boston a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Tatum made 5 of 9 three-pointers in just his 19th game this season after Achilles surgery. Philadelphia played without center Joel Embiid, who is recovering from an appendectomy. Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points for the Sixers. Boston’s strong 3-point shooting made the difference in the game.

T’Wolves go up 2-1

MINNEAPOLIS — Jaden McDaniels and the Minnesota Timberwolves flexed even more of their defensive muscle against the flagging Denver Nuggets and seized a 2-1 lead in the first-round NBA playoff series with a dominant 113-96 victory.

McDaniels had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Ayo Dosunmu scored 25 points with nine assists off the bench, and Donte DiVincenzo had 15 points and four steals. Rudy Gobert followed his inspired Game 2 effort against Nikola Jokic by stifling the three-time MVP again.

The Timberwolves established a postseason franchise record by allowing the Nuggets just 11 points in the tone-setting first quarter.

Lakers win in OT

HOUSTON — LeBron James scored 29 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, Marcus Smart had eight points in overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of a Houston Rockets team missing Kevin Durant for a 112-108 win Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.

The Lakers rallied from a six-point deficit with under 30 seconds remaining and can sweep the series Sunday night in Houston. Smart added 21 points and 10 assists, and Rui Hachimura added 22 points for the Lakers.

Even with Durant out for a second game in this series — this time with a sprained ankle after missing Game 1 with a knee injury — the Rockets were in position to close out the game after James had consecutive turnovers that Houston turned into a 101-95 lead.