PHILADELPHIA — Spencer Hawes scored 21 points, grabbed nine rebounds and hit the go-ahead jumper late in the fourth quarter to help Philadelphia rally to beat Chicago 79-74 on Friday night and take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series.

Hawes scored 10 points in the fourth quarter for the eighth-seeded Sixers.

Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Already playing the rest of the series without reigning MVP Derrick Rose, the Bulls got another scare in the third quarter when Joakim Noah left with a sprained left ankle. Noah, who scored 12 points, returned in the fourth quarter and mostly hobbled around the court.

The Sixers scored only 11 points in the third quarter and trailed by double digits early in the fourth.

Celtics 90, Hawks 84

BOSTON — Rajon Rondo had a triple-double with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists to lead Boston which took a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.

It was the seventh career playoff triple-double for Rondo, who missed Game 2 because he was suspended for bumping a referee in the closing minutes of the series opener.

Game 4 is Sunday night.

Nuggets 99, Lakers 84

DENVER — Ty Lawson scored 25 points and Denver raced to an early 24-point lead in Game 3 of the first-round series.

JaVale McGee had 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Nuggets, who will try to even the best-of-seven series at two games each on Sunday night at the Pepsi Center.