Zion Williamson’s return to the New Orleans Pelicans from the NBA’s health and safety protocol has been delayed.

On Sunday, the team announced Williamson had cleared the protocol and would be available Monday against the visiting Indiana Pacers. The Pelicans’ injury report submitted Monday morning, however, listed him as doubtful, citing “return to competition reconditioning.”

Williamson, 22, missed the past two games, both won by the Pelicans. On the season, the forward is averaging 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 25 games.

The Pelicans will be short-handed against the Pacers.

Dyson Daniels (non-COVID illness) and Larry Nance Jr. (right Achilles soreness) are questionable. Brandon Ingram (toe), E.J. Liddell (knee) and Dereon Seabron (G League two-way) and Herb Jones (health and safety protocol) are listed as out.

–Field Level Media

Jayson Tatum posted his fifth straight 30-point game, leading the Boston Celtics with 41 en route to a 139-118 Christmas Day win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night.

Tatum and Jaylen Brown (29 points) combined for 70 points in a game for the eighth time in their careers. Tatum added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals as Boston won back-to-back games.

Derrick White, Grant Williams and Al Horford also scored in double figures, helping Boston shoot 19 of 39 from 3-point range. Marcus Smart handed out eight assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a team-high 27 points, while Jrue Holiday finished with 23, Brook Lopez scored 16 and Massachusetts native Pat Connaughton added 15 on four 3-pointers in Milwaukee’s third straight loss.

Nuggets 128, Suns 125 (OT)

Nikola Jokic had 41 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists, Aaron Gordon added 28 points and 13 rebounds and host Denver beat Phoenix in overtime.

Jamal Murray scored 26 points for the Nuggets, who have won four straight.
Denver trailed by eight midway through the final period before rallying.

Landry Shamet tied his career high with 31 points for Phoenix, which lost its third game in a row. Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 16 rebounds and Chris Paul amassed 17 points and 16 assists, but Devin Booker exited due to a groin injury in the first quarter.

76ers 119, Knicks 112

Joel Embiid had 35 points and eight rebounds, James Harden added 29 points and 13 assists and Philadelphia defeated host New York.

Georges Niang contributed 16 points and De’Anthony Melton had 15 for the Sixers, who won their eighth in a row without injured guard Tyrese Maxey.

Julius Randle led the Knicks with 35 points and eight rebounds while Jalen Brunson added 23 points and 11 assists. Brunson went to the locker room with 3:59 left in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury and sat out the remainder of the game on the bench.

Mavericks 124, Lakers 115

Luka Doncic scored 32 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out nine assists, and Dallas outscored visiting Los Angeles by 30 points in the third quarter to take control in a Christmas Day win.

The Lakers held a 54-43 lead at halftime behind LeBron James’ strong start, but they gave up a season-high 51 points to the Mavericks in a pivotal third quarter. James went on to finish with 38 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Christian Wood had 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals, and Tim Hardaway Jr. shot 6 of 14 from beyond the arc en route to 26 points for the Mavericks.

–Field Level Media

Nikola Jokic had 41 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists, Aaron Gordon added 28 points and 13 rebounds and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 128-125 in overtime on Sunday night.

Jamal Murray scored 26 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 15 for the Nuggets, who have won four straight.

Landry Shamet tied his career high with 31 points for Phoenix. Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 16 rebounds, Chris Paul amassed 17 points and 16 assists, Damion Lee scored 18 and Torrey Craig and Mikal Bridges had 13 points each.

The Suns lost Devin Booker to a groin injury just 4:20 into the game.

Ayton opened overtime with a 14-footer but Denver responded with the next eight points to go ahead 121-115 with 2:30 left. Shamet hit two 3-pointers around one by Caldwell-Pope and Ayton sank a reverse layup to make it 124-123 with 1:02 left.

Shamet missed from deep and fouled Gordon on his seventh dunk of the day. Gordon missed the free throw but was fouled after getting the rebound and made one of two at the line.

Paul hit a jumper, Murray split a pair of free throws, Shamet missed another 3-point attempt and the Nuggets closed it out.

Denver led by 15 early but the Suns rallied to take a 57-51 edge into halftime. Phoenix built a 12-point lead in the third and was ahead 84-81 heading into the fourth.

The Suns led by eight midway through the final period, but Murray rallied the Nuggets to a 108-107 lead with 3:08 left.

Paul hit a 15-footer, Michael Porter Jr. made one of two free throws to tie it and Shamet made a corner 3-pointer to put Phoenix in front with 2:16 to go. Jokic’s tip-in made it 112-111 with 1:17 remaining, and Murray missed a 3-point attempt that would have put the Nuggets back in front.

Paul missed on a jump shot with 32 seconds left, Murray misfired on a 21-footer and Ayton split a pair of free throws to make it 113-111 with 15 seconds left. After a timeout, Murray hit a driving dunk to tie it again with 11 seconds left and send the game to overtime.

–Field Level Media