NBA | Nuggets beat short-handed Sixers

LaMelo Ball becomes the youngest player in NBA to record a triple-double

Desperate measures: Mike Scott takes his place on the Sixers bench in order to meet the NBA’s minimum requirement for a game to be held.

Philadelphia 76ers, badly depleted by COVID-19 protocols and injuries, was routed 115-103 by the visiting Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

The short-handed Sixers were down to just seven healthy players, pushing coach Doc Rivers to activate Mike Scott, who had a left knee injury, just so they could meet the league requirement of having a minimum of eight players. Scott sat on the team bench but didn’t play.

The Sixers were missing a number of starters, including Seth Curry, who tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday.

Because of contact tracing, health protocols and injuries several other stars were also missing including Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris.

Elsewhere, LaMelo Ball became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, and Charlotte Hornets beat Atlanta Hawks 113-105.

The 19-year-old Ball is 177 days younger than Markelle Fultz when he set the triple double record.

Tim Hardaway also scored 36 points and Trey Burke added a season-high 29 to lead Dallas Mavericks to a 112-98 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic.

The results: Denver bt Philadelphia 115-103; Charlotte bt Atlanta 113-105; Dallas bt Orlando 112-98; Phoenix bt Indiana 125-117; Miami bt Washington 128-124; Milwaukee bt Cleveland 100-90; San Antonio bt Minnesota 125-122; Portland bt Sacramento 125-99 .