NBA scores, highlights: Jazz beat Celtics in Hayward’s return; Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons lead Sixers past Hornets

The NBA had a seven-game slate on Friday night that featured a very intriguing matchup. Gordon Hayward made his first trip to Utah since he left the franchise to sign a four-year deal with the Boston Celtics last offseason. To make the game even more interesting, Celtics star guard Kyrie Irving didn’t suit up as he attended his grandfather’s funeral. In the end the Jazz were able to pull away for the victory.

In other action, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons led the Philadelphia 76ers to an overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets in an Eastern Conference tilt. Kemba Walker was brilliant with 30 points, nine badists and seven rebounds, but the Sixers’ dynamic duo proved to be just a bit too much for Charlotte.

Here are the scores, highlights and updates for Friday night.

NBA Schedule for Friday, Nov. 9

Jazz win in Hayward’s return

Gordon Hayward had 13 points and seven badists in his first game in Utah since signing with the Celtics, but Joe Ingles and Jae Crowder were the story of this game. Ingles tied his career high with 27 points, adding seven badists and five rebounds, while Crowder had 20 points, six rebounds and four badists off the bench, hitting an absolute dagger 3-pointer to seal the game.

Embiid, Simmons have monster nights

Trust the process, indeed. Joel Embiid was unstoppable on Friday against the Hornets, putting up a season-high 42 points while pulling down 18 rebounds and blocking four shots. Ben Simmons was no slouch himself, filling up the stat sheet with 22 points, 13 badists, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Simmons also blocked Kemba Walker’s 3-point attempt toward the end of overtime that could have tied the game.

LeVert hits game-winner

Caris LeVert has a signature moment for his young NBA career, hitting a game-winning floater to beat the Nuggets in Denver on Friday. LeVert finished the game with 17 points and five badists.

Jazz fans boo Hayward in return

Jazz fans apparently have not forgiven Hayward for his departure from Utah. As starting lineups were announced prior to the start of the Jazz’s game versus the Celtics, Utah fans were very vocal regarding how they felt about Hayward’s return to Salt Lake for the first time since signing with Boston last year.

Wall with a behind-the-back layup

Say what you want about the Wizards, but man, this was one heck of a layup by John Wall. 

Fultz nutmegs defender on badist to Simmons

Hey, whatever gets the job done. Markelle Fultz pulled off one of the niftier badists of the night by nutmegging a Hornets defender as Ben Simmons slam dunked it.

Embiid stuffs Monk

You better believe Malik Monk won’t hear the end of this. Check out this swat by Joel Embiid on the young Hornets guard.

Drummond swats Hawks rookie

Andre Drummond has no mercy on rookie point guards. Check out this absolute swat by the big man on Trae Young.

Rozier to start for Irving

The Celtics will start Scary Terry again. As Boston prepares for a big back-to-back road matchup versus the Jazz, Terry Rozier will start in place of Kyrie Irving, who is missing the game due to personal reasons.

Simmons finishes off McConnell’s full-court pbad

T.J. McConnell might as well be the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Check out the point guard’s full-court pbad to Ben Simmons as Simmons finishes off the sequence with an impactful dunk versus the Hornets.

Wizards don’t know how to inbound ball

If it wasn’t for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Wizards would be the joke of the league. At 2-8, they have the third-worst record in the NBA. They rank dead-last in the league in defense, allowing 120.5 points per game. 

And somehow, they’ve managed to top off all of that by failing to inbound the ball properly.