In-Season Tournament roundup: Luka torches Clippers, Embiid too much for Pistons

The inaugural In-Season Tournament continued Friday with nine games in group play. For an explanation of how the tourney works, including the breakdown of the groups, tap here.

To see what happened last week when the tournament got under way, click here.

Friday's results

• 76ers 114-106 Pistons (Recap)
• Hornets 124-117 Wizards (Recap)
• Nets 107-121 Celtics (Recap)
• Pelicans 101-104 Rockets (Recap)
• Jazz 127-121 Grizzlies (Recap)
• Timberwolves 117-110 Spurs (Recap)
• Clippers 126-144 Mavericks (Recap)
• Lakers 122-119 Suns (Recap)
• Thunder 98-105 Kings (Recap)

Top performers

Luka Doncic (Mavericks): Any doubts that Doncic loves facing the Los Angeles Clippers were thoroughly expunged with a 44-point performance on 17-of-21 shooting in Dallas' win. For those counting at home, that's his fifth 40-point game against Tyronn Lue's side - his most against any team.

Joel Embiid (76ers): Despite employing a handful of centers, the Detroit Pistons had no answer for reigning MVP Joel Embiid. He went 16-of-19 from the charity stripe amid a 33-point, 16-rebound double-double to help Philadelphia pick up its seventh straight win.

Mark Williams (Hornets): The Washington Wizards will have nightmares about trying to grab rebounds in the vicinity of Charlotte's 7-footer. If a double-double of 21 points and 24 rebounds isn't convincing enough, consider that 15 of those boards were offensive rebounds.

Highlight of the night

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray followed up a nimble save by blowing past Josh Giddey and completely ethering 7-foot-1 Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren at the rim.

Tweet of the night

Boban Marjanovic may not be getting a lot of minutes nowadays, but when there's a ball stuck about 10 feet high behind the backboard, you better believe the Rockets center is ready to spring into action.

Stat of the night

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham swapped Austin Reaves for Cam Reddish in the starting lineup, but it failed to remedy the team's slow starts this season. The Suns outscored L.A. 34-25 in the first quarter, during which the Lakers fell behind by double digits for the seventh time in their last nine games. And yet, LeBron James and Co. still rallied late for the victory.

What's next?

Tuesday's tournament slate features 10 matchups with a handful of heavyweight tilts in the West. That includes the Thunder hosting the San Antonio Spurs in the first official meeting between early Rookie of the Year favorites Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama.