Giannis Powers Bucks With 55 Points In Home Win
By Dan Bruno
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the visiting Washington Wizards, 123-113, at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday evening.
Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 55 points to lift the Bucks at home. The game got out to a tight start, but the Bucks pulled away in the second quarter to claim a 12-point lead by halftime. The Wizards came out stronger in the third quarter and rallied to cut it to a five-point game heading into the final quarter. However, the Bucks reclaimed control in the fourth and confidently closed out the win, putting an end to the Wizards' five-game winning streak.
Antetokounmpo added 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals, in 37 minutes to round out an impressive score line. Brook Lopez followed up with 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, six blocks and a steal, while Bobby Portis tallied 17 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Bucks shot 48 percent from the field, including 11-of-40 from deep.
Meanwhile, the Kristaps Porzingis led the Wizards with 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block, in 35 minutes. Kyle Kuzma followed up with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks, while Daniel Gafford totaled 11 points, 12 rebounds and two assists. The Wizards shot 43 percent from the field, including 8-of-27 from long range.
The Wizards (17-22) will look to bounce back as they take on the Thunder in OKC on Friday. The Bucks (24-13) take on the Raptors in Toronto on Wednesday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 55 points to lift the Bucks at home. The game got out to a tight start, but the Bucks pulled away in the second quarter to claim a 12-point lead by halftime. The Wizards came out stronger in the third quarter and rallied to cut it to a five-point game heading into the final quarter. However, the Bucks reclaimed control in the fourth and confidently closed out the win, putting an end to the Wizards' five-game winning streak.
Antetokounmpo added 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals, in 37 minutes to round out an impressive score line. Brook Lopez followed up with 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, six blocks and a steal, while Bobby Portis tallied 17 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Bucks shot 48 percent from the field, including 11-of-40 from deep.
Meanwhile, the Kristaps Porzingis led the Wizards with 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block, in 35 minutes. Kyle Kuzma followed up with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks, while Daniel Gafford totaled 11 points, 12 rebounds and two assists. The Wizards shot 43 percent from the field, including 8-of-27 from long range.
The Wizards (17-22) will look to bounce back as they take on the Thunder in OKC on Friday. The Bucks (24-13) take on the Raptors in Toronto on Wednesday.
Thunder Rout Celtics In OKC
By Dan Bruno
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the visiting Boston Celtics, 150-117, at Paycom Center on Tuesday evening.
The game got out to a competitive start, as the Thunder led, 34-33, after one quarter. However, the hosts turned up the pressure in the second and outscored the Celtics by 19 points in the quarter to take a 20-point cushion into the break. The Thunder kept the intensity up in the third and outscored the Celtics, 48-37, to make it a 31-point difference heading into the final frame. The visitors had no answers in the fourth and fell short for a second straight loss.
Josh Giddey led the Thunder with 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals, in 24 minutes. Luguentz Dort followed up with 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Jalen Williams added 21 points, three rebounds, six assists and four steals. The Thunder shot 59 percent from the field, including 20-of-40 from deep.
Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 29 points and two assists, in 25 minutes. Jayson Tatum followed up with 27 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Malcolm Brogdon added 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. The Celtics shot 45.5 percent from the field, including 12-of-40 from deep.
The Celtics (26-12) will look to bounce back as they take on the Mavericks in Dallas on Thursday. The Thunder (16-21) take on the Magic in Orlando on Wednesday.
The game got out to a competitive start, as the Thunder led, 34-33, after one quarter. However, the hosts turned up the pressure in the second and outscored the Celtics by 19 points in the quarter to take a 20-point cushion into the break. The Thunder kept the intensity up in the third and outscored the Celtics, 48-37, to make it a 31-point difference heading into the final frame. The visitors had no answers in the fourth and fell short for a second straight loss.
Josh Giddey led the Thunder with 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals, in 24 minutes. Luguentz Dort followed up with 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Jalen Williams added 21 points, three rebounds, six assists and four steals. The Thunder shot 59 percent from the field, including 20-of-40 from deep.
Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 29 points and two assists, in 25 minutes. Jayson Tatum followed up with 27 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Malcolm Brogdon added 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. The Celtics shot 45.5 percent from the field, including 12-of-40 from deep.
The Celtics (26-12) will look to bounce back as they take on the Mavericks in Dallas on Thursday. The Thunder (16-21) take on the Magic in Orlando on Wednesday.
Kings Defeat Jazz, 117-115
The Sacramento Kings defeated the host Utah Jazz, 117-115, at Vivint Arena on Tuesday.
There were eight ties and 10 lead changes in this game, with the majority of those coming in the fourth quarter. De'Aaron Fox was the hero, hitting a game-winning lay-up with 0.4 seconds remaining. Lauri Markkanen made a game-winning three to counter, but the ball was on his fingertips as the buzzer expired to give the Kings their win. Sacramento shot 54 percent from the field while holding Utah to 43 percent shooting. In addition, the Kings starters outscored the Jazz starters by 20 points.
The Kings (20-16) were led by Fox, finishing with 37 points, three rebounds, six assists and two blocks on 15-of-22 from the field. Domantas Sabonis collected 21 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Harrison Barnes had 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter had 16 points apiece.
The Jazz (19-21) were led by Markkanen, amassing 28 points and eight rebounds. Jordan Clarkson collected 24 points, three rebounds and two assists. Mike Conley compiled 18 points, seven assists and three steals, while Jarred Vanderbilt accrued 14 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Malik Beasley led the bench with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Sacramento has to play the second half of a back-to-back set on Wednesday, returning home to play the Atlanta Hawks. As for Utah, they travel to face the Houston Rockets on Thursday for their next outing.
There were eight ties and 10 lead changes in this game, with the majority of those coming in the fourth quarter. De'Aaron Fox was the hero, hitting a game-winning lay-up with 0.4 seconds remaining. Lauri Markkanen made a game-winning three to counter, but the ball was on his fingertips as the buzzer expired to give the Kings their win. Sacramento shot 54 percent from the field while holding Utah to 43 percent shooting. In addition, the Kings starters outscored the Jazz starters by 20 points.
The Kings (20-16) were led by Fox, finishing with 37 points, three rebounds, six assists and two blocks on 15-of-22 from the field. Domantas Sabonis collected 21 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Harrison Barnes had 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter had 16 points apiece.
The Jazz (19-21) were led by Markkanen, amassing 28 points and eight rebounds. Jordan Clarkson collected 24 points, three rebounds and two assists. Mike Conley compiled 18 points, seven assists and three steals, while Jarred Vanderbilt accrued 14 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Malik Beasley led the bench with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Sacramento has to play the second half of a back-to-back set on Wednesday, returning home to play the Atlanta Hawks. As for Utah, they travel to face the Houston Rockets on Thursday for their next outing.