CELTICS 108, KNICKS 97

PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Hollis Thompson scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to the victory over the slumping Denver Nuggets.

Michael Carter-Williams had 15 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds and Robert Covington added 17 points for the improving 76ers, who won their third straight home game for the first time since March 2013.

Danilo Gallinari scored 22 points to pace the Nuggets, who dropped their 10th in 11 games.

The 76ers were the laughingstock of the league while starting the season with 17 straight losses. But they have won three of five, with the two losses in competitive games on the road against Eastern Conference contenders Atlanta and Cleveland.