Bucks Use Strong Second Half To Defeat Raptors
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Toronto Raptors, 130-122, at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday night.
The Bucks (29-16) are inching closer to reaching the 30-win plateau and had a strong performance in front of their fans while getting past the Raptors (20-25) even though they remain without two key players in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. The Bucks enjoyed a strong start and quickly dominated following a 44-34 score in the first quarter, but the Raptors turned things around and grabbed the lead at halftime following a 40-23 score in the second quarter. Up by seven points, it seemed as if the Raptors were going to hold on to their advantage, but Milwaukee played with more intensity in the second half and the third quarter showed it, defeating their rivals by a 38-23 score and holding an eight-point advantage heading into the final 12 minutes. The final quarter ended with a 25-25 tie, and the Bucks ended cruising their way to victory. With the win, the Bucks improved to 18-5 at home while the Raptors fell to 6-14 away from home.
Jrue Holiday had one of the best offensive performances of his career and finished with 37 points while adding six rebounds, seven assists and two steals, while Grayson Allen stepped up his game as well and posted 25 points with five rebounds. Bobby Portis had a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double, and Brook Lopez ended with 19 points before getting sent off. Joe Ingles chipped in with 15 points off the bench.
Fred VanVleet led the Raptors with 39 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Pascal Siakam finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Gary Trent had 28 points, three rebounds, two assists and four steals, and Scottie Barnes contributed a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double that also added five assists and three steals. Precious Achiuwa ended with 11 points and seven boards off the bench.
The Bucks (29-16) are inching closer to reaching the 30-win plateau and had a strong performance in front of their fans while getting past the Raptors (20-25) even though they remain without two key players in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. The Bucks enjoyed a strong start and quickly dominated following a 44-34 score in the first quarter, but the Raptors turned things around and grabbed the lead at halftime following a 40-23 score in the second quarter. Up by seven points, it seemed as if the Raptors were going to hold on to their advantage, but Milwaukee played with more intensity in the second half and the third quarter showed it, defeating their rivals by a 38-23 score and holding an eight-point advantage heading into the final 12 minutes. The final quarter ended with a 25-25 tie, and the Bucks ended cruising their way to victory. With the win, the Bucks improved to 18-5 at home while the Raptors fell to 6-14 away from home.
Jrue Holiday had one of the best offensive performances of his career and finished with 37 points while adding six rebounds, seven assists and two steals, while Grayson Allen stepped up his game as well and posted 25 points with five rebounds. Bobby Portis had a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double, and Brook Lopez ended with 19 points before getting sent off. Joe Ingles chipped in with 15 points off the bench.
Fred VanVleet led the Raptors with 39 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Pascal Siakam finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Gary Trent had 28 points, three rebounds, two assists and four steals, and Scottie Barnes contributed a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double that also added five assists and three steals. Precious Achiuwa ended with 11 points and seven boards off the bench.
Spurs Upend Nets, 106-98
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 106-98, at AT & T Center on Tuesday night.
The Spurs (14-31) came into the contest with a 14-win deficit compared to their opponent, but they looked like the dominant squad while racing out to a 27-15 lead through one. However, the Nets (27-16) turned the tables in the second quarter, erasing their deficit altogether to send the game into halftime knotted up at 51-51. San Antonio's defense then turned it up a notch in the third while limiting Brooklyn to 17 points, and while the visitors got as close as within four at one point in the fourth quarter, the hosts ultimately matched them bucket for bucket over the final 12 minutes.
T.J. Warren led the Nets with 19 points, adding five rebounds and one steal. Seth Curry furnished 16 points, seven boards, two assists and one steal. Nicolas Claxton generated a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double that included four assists, four blocks and one steal. Cam Thomas matched Claxton's scoring and also posted two rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Edmond Sumner delivered 13 points, four boards and one assist. Ben Simmons produced a 10-point, 11-assist, 10-rebound double-double that included four steals and two blocks.
Keldon Johnson paced the Spurs with a 36-point, 11-rebound double-double that included one assist and four steals. Jeremy Sochan contributed 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Tre Jones delivered 13 points, five assists and four boards. Jakob Poeltl turned in 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal.
The Nets remain on the road and visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night, while the Spurs remain home and host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.
The Spurs (14-31) came into the contest with a 14-win deficit compared to their opponent, but they looked like the dominant squad while racing out to a 27-15 lead through one. However, the Nets (27-16) turned the tables in the second quarter, erasing their deficit altogether to send the game into halftime knotted up at 51-51. San Antonio's defense then turned it up a notch in the third while limiting Brooklyn to 17 points, and while the visitors got as close as within four at one point in the fourth quarter, the hosts ultimately matched them bucket for bucket over the final 12 minutes.
T.J. Warren led the Nets with 19 points, adding five rebounds and one steal. Seth Curry furnished 16 points, seven boards, two assists and one steal. Nicolas Claxton generated a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double that included four assists, four blocks and one steal. Cam Thomas matched Claxton's scoring and also posted two rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Edmond Sumner delivered 13 points, four boards and one assist. Ben Simmons produced a 10-point, 11-assist, 10-rebound double-double that included four steals and two blocks.
Keldon Johnson paced the Spurs with a 36-point, 11-rebound double-double that included one assist and four steals. Jeremy Sochan contributed 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Tre Jones delivered 13 points, five assists and four boards. Jakob Poeltl turned in 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal.
The Nets remain on the road and visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night, while the Spurs remain home and host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.
Nuggets Too Much For Trail Blazers
By Dan Bruno
The Denver Nuggets defeated the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 122-113, at Ball Arena on Tuesday evening.
The game got out to a high-scoring start as the Nuggets led, 34-31, after one quarter. The pace kept up in the second, where the Nuggets outscored the visitors, 39-36, to take a six-point lead into the break. The hosts stayed in control in the third and managed to push it to a 12-point game heading into the final quarter. The Trail Blazers had no answers in the fourth, as the Nuggets held on for their seventh straight win.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 36 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, a steal and a block, in 34 minutes. Michael Porter followed up with 23 points and four rebounds, while Jamal Murray tallied 17 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block. The Nuggets shot 50 percent from the field, including 11-of-32 from long range.
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 44 points, three rebounds and eight assists, in 34 minutes. Jerami Grant followed up with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Anfernee Simons tallied 14 points, two rebounds and two assists. The Trail Blazers shot 45.8 percent from the field, including 13-of-40 from deep.
The Trail Blazers (21-23) will look to bounce back as they play host to the 76ers on Thursday. The Nuggets (31-13) play host to the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
The game got out to a high-scoring start as the Nuggets led, 34-31, after one quarter. The pace kept up in the second, where the Nuggets outscored the visitors, 39-36, to take a six-point lead into the break. The hosts stayed in control in the third and managed to push it to a 12-point game heading into the final quarter. The Trail Blazers had no answers in the fourth, as the Nuggets held on for their seventh straight win.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 36 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, a steal and a block, in 34 minutes. Michael Porter followed up with 23 points and four rebounds, while Jamal Murray tallied 17 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block. The Nuggets shot 50 percent from the field, including 11-of-32 from long range.
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 44 points, three rebounds and eight assists, in 34 minutes. Jerami Grant followed up with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Anfernee Simons tallied 14 points, two rebounds and two assists. The Trail Blazers shot 45.8 percent from the field, including 13-of-40 from deep.
The Trail Blazers (21-23) will look to bounce back as they play host to the 76ers on Thursday. The Nuggets (31-13) play host to the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Sixers Defeat Clippers, 120-110
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the host Los Angeles Clippers, 120-110, at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.
While there were nine ties in this game, Philly led for all but a few minutes. They kicked things off with a 62-53 first half, but LA took a short lead behind a 37-27 third quarter. The Sixers then responded with a 27-9 run to start the final frame, getting their lead up to 19 points in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia shot 53 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range while holding Los Angeles to 50 percent from the field and 35 percent from long range. The Sixers also shot 29-of-34 from the free-throw line, while the Clips shot just 16-of-20. They also recorded 12 steals to LA's four, winning the fastbreak scoring battle, 23-11.
The Sixers (28-16) were led by Joel Embiid, finishing with 41 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks. James Harden had six points, three rebounds and nine assists. Tobias Harris tallied 20 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals, while Tyrese Maxey led the bench with 22 points, two rebounds and two assists.
The Clippers (23-23) were led by Kawhi Leonard, collecting 27 points and four rebounds. Paul George provided 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Ivica Zubac amassed 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, while Terance Mann totaled 12 points, four rebounds and four assists. Norman Powell led the bench with 16 points.
On deck for Los Angeles is a road game against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. As for Philadelphia, they stay on the road to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.
While there were nine ties in this game, Philly led for all but a few minutes. They kicked things off with a 62-53 first half, but LA took a short lead behind a 37-27 third quarter. The Sixers then responded with a 27-9 run to start the final frame, getting their lead up to 19 points in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia shot 53 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range while holding Los Angeles to 50 percent from the field and 35 percent from long range. The Sixers also shot 29-of-34 from the free-throw line, while the Clips shot just 16-of-20. They also recorded 12 steals to LA's four, winning the fastbreak scoring battle, 23-11.
The Sixers (28-16) were led by Joel Embiid, finishing with 41 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks. James Harden had six points, three rebounds and nine assists. Tobias Harris tallied 20 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals, while Tyrese Maxey led the bench with 22 points, two rebounds and two assists.
The Clippers (23-23) were led by Kawhi Leonard, collecting 27 points and four rebounds. Paul George provided 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Ivica Zubac amassed 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, while Terance Mann totaled 12 points, four rebounds and four assists. Norman Powell led the bench with 16 points.
On deck for Los Angeles is a road game against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. As for Philadelphia, they stay on the road to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.