Bucks Top Celtics In Overtime
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Boston Celtics, 131-125, on overtime at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday.
The Bucks (40-17) and the Celtics (41-17) had to play five extra minutes to find a winner, and in the end, Milwaukee escaped with the victory after outscoring their rivals down the stretch. Boston enjoyed an excellent start to the contest and jumped out to a 35-27 score following the first quarter, but the Bucks responded with a 37-28 score in the second quarter and grabbed a one-point lead entering the halftime break. Boston played the second half with a more intense approach and once again outscored the Bucks, finishing the third quarter with a 32-26 score and leading by five points with just 12 minutes left on the clock, but the Bucks reacted just before it was too late, and they won the final quarter by a 26-21 score, meaning they did enough to force an overtime period. Milwaukee carried the momentum into the final five minutes, and the Bucks won after outscoring Boston by a 15-9 score in the deciding period. With the win, the Bucks moved to 24-5 at home, while the Celtics fell to 18-10 on the road.
Jrue Holiday led the way for the Bucks with an impressive 40-point performance that also included seven assists, five rebounds and three steals, while Giannis Antetokounmpo sniffed a triple-double after recording 36 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and two blocks. Grayson Allen finished with 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Pat Connaughton had five points with eight boards. Khris Middleton posted 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists off the bench.
Derrick White had another impressive contest and finished with 27 points and 12 assists, while Mike Muscala delivered 18 points and eight rebounds. Sam Hauser recorded 15 points and nine boards, and Grant Williams posted 12 points with 10 rebounds and four assists. Blake Griffin notched 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Malcolm Brogdon had 26 points off the bench.
The Bucks (40-17) and the Celtics (41-17) had to play five extra minutes to find a winner, and in the end, Milwaukee escaped with the victory after outscoring their rivals down the stretch. Boston enjoyed an excellent start to the contest and jumped out to a 35-27 score following the first quarter, but the Bucks responded with a 37-28 score in the second quarter and grabbed a one-point lead entering the halftime break. Boston played the second half with a more intense approach and once again outscored the Bucks, finishing the third quarter with a 32-26 score and leading by five points with just 12 minutes left on the clock, but the Bucks reacted just before it was too late, and they won the final quarter by a 26-21 score, meaning they did enough to force an overtime period. Milwaukee carried the momentum into the final five minutes, and the Bucks won after outscoring Boston by a 15-9 score in the deciding period. With the win, the Bucks moved to 24-5 at home, while the Celtics fell to 18-10 on the road.
Jrue Holiday led the way for the Bucks with an impressive 40-point performance that also included seven assists, five rebounds and three steals, while Giannis Antetokounmpo sniffed a triple-double after recording 36 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and two blocks. Grayson Allen finished with 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Pat Connaughton had five points with eight boards. Khris Middleton posted 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists off the bench.
Derrick White had another impressive contest and finished with 27 points and 12 assists, while Mike Muscala delivered 18 points and eight rebounds. Sam Hauser recorded 15 points and nine boards, and Grant Williams posted 12 points with 10 rebounds and four assists. Blake Griffin notched 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Malcolm Brogdon had 26 points off the bench.
Raptors Top Magic At Home
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic, 123-113, at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.
The Raptors (28-31) enjoyed an excellent start and that was enough to get past the Magic (24-35) at home. Toronto looked good in the early going and raced out to a 35-27 lead in the first quarter, but the Raptors couldn’t maintain that dominance, and the Magic took advantage of that to grab the lead following a 43-30 score in the second quarter. The Raptors played the second half with a more aggressive approach, though, as they limited the Magic to just 19 points while outscoring them by 10 points, giving Toronto a five-point advantage entering the final 12 minutes of the contest. Toronto closed things out and won the final quarter by a 29-24 score as well, and the Raptors ended up cruising their way to victory. With the win, Toronto moved to 18-13 at home, while the Magic fell to 10-20 away from home.
Jakob Poeltl led the way for the Raptors with 30 points, nine rebounds, six blocks and two assists, while Pascal Siakam recorded 26 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals. Precious Achiuwa had a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds, and Scottie Barnes had 17 points with six rebounds and six assists. Fred VanVleet recorded 10 points and 15 assists, and Chris Boucher had 13 points with four boards off the bench. Malachi Flynn had 10 points.
Wendell Carter led the Magic in scoring with 26 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Markelle Fultz recorded 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Paolo Banchero posted 13 points and three assists. Jalen Suggs was impressive for the Magic and delivered 24 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals coming off the bench.
The Raptors (28-31) enjoyed an excellent start and that was enough to get past the Magic (24-35) at home. Toronto looked good in the early going and raced out to a 35-27 lead in the first quarter, but the Raptors couldn’t maintain that dominance, and the Magic took advantage of that to grab the lead following a 43-30 score in the second quarter. The Raptors played the second half with a more aggressive approach, though, as they limited the Magic to just 19 points while outscoring them by 10 points, giving Toronto a five-point advantage entering the final 12 minutes of the contest. Toronto closed things out and won the final quarter by a 29-24 score as well, and the Raptors ended up cruising their way to victory. With the win, Toronto moved to 18-13 at home, while the Magic fell to 10-20 away from home.
Jakob Poeltl led the way for the Raptors with 30 points, nine rebounds, six blocks and two assists, while Pascal Siakam recorded 26 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals. Precious Achiuwa had a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds, and Scottie Barnes had 17 points with six rebounds and six assists. Fred VanVleet recorded 10 points and 15 assists, and Chris Boucher had 13 points with four boards off the bench. Malachi Flynn had 10 points.
Wendell Carter led the Magic in scoring with 26 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Markelle Fultz recorded 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Paolo Banchero posted 13 points and three assists. Jalen Suggs was impressive for the Magic and delivered 24 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals coming off the bench.
Suns Upend Kings, 120-109
The Phoenix Suns defeated the Sacramento Kings, 120-109, at Footprint Center on Tuesday night.
The Suns (32-27) came into the contest as home favorites, but it was the Kings (32-25) that got off to a fast start by forging a 29-27 lead through one. However, Phoenix eliminated its deficit and built a four-point advantage going into halftime, one they also held going into the final period. The hosts then put together an even stronger fourth quarter with a 30-23 edge to seal the victory.
De'Aaron Fox led the Kings with 35 points, complementing them with four rebounds, four assists and one steal. Domantas Sabonis generated a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double that included seven assists and two steals. Kevin Huerter delivered 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal. Harrison Barnes and Terence Davis produced matching 11-point, two-rebound efforts, with Davis adding two steals.
Devin Booker paced the Suns with 32 points, supplementing them with five boards, two assists and two steals. Deandre Ayton mustered a 29-point, 11-rebound double-double that included two assists, four steals and two blocks. Josh Okogie furnished 19 points, six rebounds and three assists. Chris Paul managed a 17-point, 19-assist double-double that included five rebounds and two steals.
The Kings return home to host the Portland Trail Blazers in their first post-All-Star-break contest on Thursday, Feb. 23. The Suns remain home and host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.
The Suns (32-27) came into the contest as home favorites, but it was the Kings (32-25) that got off to a fast start by forging a 29-27 lead through one. However, Phoenix eliminated its deficit and built a four-point advantage going into halftime, one they also held going into the final period. The hosts then put together an even stronger fourth quarter with a 30-23 edge to seal the victory.
De'Aaron Fox led the Kings with 35 points, complementing them with four rebounds, four assists and one steal. Domantas Sabonis generated a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double that included seven assists and two steals. Kevin Huerter delivered 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal. Harrison Barnes and Terence Davis produced matching 11-point, two-rebound efforts, with Davis adding two steals.
Devin Booker paced the Suns with 32 points, supplementing them with five boards, two assists and two steals. Deandre Ayton mustered a 29-point, 11-rebound double-double that included two assists, four steals and two blocks. Josh Okogie furnished 19 points, six rebounds and three assists. Chris Paul managed a 17-point, 19-assist double-double that included five rebounds and two steals.
The Kings return home to host the Portland Trail Blazers in their first post-All-Star-break contest on Thursday, Feb. 23. The Suns remain home and host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.
Clippers Cruise Past Warriors In L.A.
By Dan Bruno
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the visiting Golden State Warriors, 134-124, at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday evening.
The Clippers jumped out to a great start with a, 31-23, lead after one quarter, but the Warriors bounced back in the second and rallied to a four-point advantage by halftime. The Clippers reclaimed control in the third and outscored the hosts, 44-28, to take a 12-point lead into the final frame. Both sides brought a solid effort in the fourth, but the Clippers held on for the home win.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 33 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block, in 34 minutes. Norman Powell followed up with 24 points, three rebounds and a steal, while Paul George tallied 20 points, two rebounds and eight assists. The Clippers shot 53.3 percent from the field, including 17-of-36 from deep.
Meanwhile, Jordan Poole led the Warriors with 28 points, two rebounds and six assists, in 33 minutes. Klay Thompson followed up with 18 points, two rebounds and two assists, while Draymond Green totaled 15 points, five rebounds, seven assists and a steal. The Warriors shot 54.2 percent from the field, including 15-of-34 from long range.
The Warriors (29-29) will look to bounce back as they take on the Lakers in L.A. on Thursday. The Clippers (32-28) take on the Suns in Phoenix on Thursday.
The Clippers jumped out to a great start with a, 31-23, lead after one quarter, but the Warriors bounced back in the second and rallied to a four-point advantage by halftime. The Clippers reclaimed control in the third and outscored the hosts, 44-28, to take a 12-point lead into the final frame. Both sides brought a solid effort in the fourth, but the Clippers held on for the home win.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 33 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block, in 34 minutes. Norman Powell followed up with 24 points, three rebounds and a steal, while Paul George tallied 20 points, two rebounds and eight assists. The Clippers shot 53.3 percent from the field, including 17-of-36 from deep.
Meanwhile, Jordan Poole led the Warriors with 28 points, two rebounds and six assists, in 33 minutes. Klay Thompson followed up with 18 points, two rebounds and two assists, while Draymond Green totaled 15 points, five rebounds, seven assists and a steal. The Warriors shot 54.2 percent from the field, including 15-of-34 from long range.
The Warriors (29-29) will look to bounce back as they take on the Lakers in L.A. on Thursday. The Clippers (32-28) take on the Suns in Phoenix on Thursday.
Wizards Defeat Blazers, 126-101
The Washington Wizards defeated the host Portland Trail Blazers, 126-101, at Moda Center on Tuesday.
A 31-27 first quarter set the tone for Washington in this game, winning in wire-to-wire fashion. A 38-22 third quarter is what put the game to bed, with the Wizards maintaining a double-digit lead for the closing 18 minutes. They won all four individual quarters as well. The Wizards shot 57 percent from the field and 52 percent from three-point range while holding the Trail Blazers to 42 percent from the field and 29 percent from long range. Washington also out-rebounded Portland, 52-41, while out-assisting them, 28-20.
The Wizards (27-30) were led by Kyle Kuzma, tallying 33 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Kristaps Porzingis provided 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Bradley Beal had 19 points, two rebounds and four assists, while Monte Morris totaled six points, seven rebounds and four assists. Kendrick Nunn led the bench with 10 points.
The Trail Blazers (28-30) were led by Damian Lillard, collecting 39 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Cam Reddish scored 18 points. Anfernee Simons rolled his ankle but finished with 17 points, two rebounds and three assists. Drew Eubanks amassed three points, 11 rebounds, two assists and four blocks, while Shaedon Sharpe led the bench with 14 points.
Washington will close out the first half with a road matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. Portland is done until February 23, traveling to face the Sacramento Kings.
A 31-27 first quarter set the tone for Washington in this game, winning in wire-to-wire fashion. A 38-22 third quarter is what put the game to bed, with the Wizards maintaining a double-digit lead for the closing 18 minutes. They won all four individual quarters as well. The Wizards shot 57 percent from the field and 52 percent from three-point range while holding the Trail Blazers to 42 percent from the field and 29 percent from long range. Washington also out-rebounded Portland, 52-41, while out-assisting them, 28-20.
The Wizards (27-30) were led by Kyle Kuzma, tallying 33 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Kristaps Porzingis provided 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Bradley Beal had 19 points, two rebounds and four assists, while Monte Morris totaled six points, seven rebounds and four assists. Kendrick Nunn led the bench with 10 points.
The Trail Blazers (28-30) were led by Damian Lillard, collecting 39 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Cam Reddish scored 18 points. Anfernee Simons rolled his ankle but finished with 17 points, two rebounds and three assists. Drew Eubanks amassed three points, 11 rebounds, two assists and four blocks, while Shaedon Sharpe led the bench with 14 points.
Washington will close out the first half with a road matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. Portland is done until February 23, traveling to face the Sacramento Kings.