Bucks Get Past Spurs, 125-121
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 125-121, at AT & T Center on Thursday night.
The highly anticipated first-ever meeting between Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo after the former had missed the first game between the teams earlier in the season was hotly contested from the start. The Bucks (25-10) held a 38-31 lead after a high-scoring opening period, and the Spurs (5-29) managed to cut two points from their deficit before halftime. San Antonio then proceeded to send the game into the final period knotted up at 93-93 and ultimately had a chance to force overtime before Tre Jones' wide open would-be game-tying three-point attempt with 1.1 seconds remaining failed to find the net.
Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks with 44 points, adding 14 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block. Damian Lillard provided 25 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and one steal. Khris Middleton furnished 12 points, five assists, three boards and one steal. Malik Beasley delivered 10 points and two rebounds.
Devin Vassell paced the Spurs with 34 points, which he complemented with six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Wembanyama totaled 27 points, nine rebounds, one assist, five blocks and one steal. Jones supplied 18 points, six assists, five rebounds and one steal. Keldon Johnson generated a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one assist. Cedi Osman posted 13 points, five assists, two rebounds and three steals.
The Bucks remain in Texas and pay a visit to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, while the Spurs hit the road and visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon.
The highly anticipated first-ever meeting between Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo after the former had missed the first game between the teams earlier in the season was hotly contested from the start. The Bucks (25-10) held a 38-31 lead after a high-scoring opening period, and the Spurs (5-29) managed to cut two points from their deficit before halftime. San Antonio then proceeded to send the game into the final period knotted up at 93-93 and ultimately had a chance to force overtime before Tre Jones' wide open would-be game-tying three-point attempt with 1.1 seconds remaining failed to find the net.
Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks with 44 points, adding 14 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block. Damian Lillard provided 25 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and one steal. Khris Middleton furnished 12 points, five assists, three boards and one steal. Malik Beasley delivered 10 points and two rebounds.
Devin Vassell paced the Spurs with 34 points, which he complemented with six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Wembanyama totaled 27 points, nine rebounds, one assist, five blocks and one steal. Jones supplied 18 points, six assists, five rebounds and one steal. Keldon Johnson generated a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one assist. Cedi Osman posted 13 points, five assists, two rebounds and three steals.
The Bucks remain in Texas and pay a visit to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, while the Spurs hit the road and visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon.
Nuggets Defeat Warriors, 130-127
The Denver Nuggets defeated the host Golden State Warriors, 130-127, at Chase Center on Thursday.
There were 12 ties and nine lead changes in this game, with the most impactful lead change happening at the buzzer. Nikola Jokic hit a game-winning 35-footer at the buzzer to grab the Nuggets their comeback win. The Warriors led this game 123-105 with 6:51 remaining, but the Nuggets closed things on a 25-4 run to complete their comeback. That capped off a 36-20 fourth quarter for Denver. The Nuggets shot 57 percent from the field, while the Warriors shot 54 percent. Denver also hit 25-of-29 from the free-throw line, while Golden State shot 14-of-16.
The Nuggets (25-11) were led by Jokic, collecting 34 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists and two steals on 13-of-16 from the field. Aaron Goron generated 30 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Jamal Murray amassed 25 points, two rebounds, six assists and two steals, while Peyton Watson led the bench with 19 points and five boards.
The Warriors (16-18) were led by Stephen Curry, finishing with 30 points, four rebounds and six assists. Klay Thompson tallied 24 points, three rebounds and three assists. Jonathan Kuminga compiled 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. Dario Saric and Brandin Podziesmki led the bench with 13 points apiece. Saric also provided seven points and six assists.
Both teams return to action on Friday, with Denver playing host to the Orlando Magic and Golden State staying home to face the Detroit Pistons.
There were 12 ties and nine lead changes in this game, with the most impactful lead change happening at the buzzer. Nikola Jokic hit a game-winning 35-footer at the buzzer to grab the Nuggets their comeback win. The Warriors led this game 123-105 with 6:51 remaining, but the Nuggets closed things on a 25-4 run to complete their comeback. That capped off a 36-20 fourth quarter for Denver. The Nuggets shot 57 percent from the field, while the Warriors shot 54 percent. Denver also hit 25-of-29 from the free-throw line, while Golden State shot 14-of-16.
The Nuggets (25-11) were led by Jokic, collecting 34 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists and two steals on 13-of-16 from the field. Aaron Goron generated 30 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Jamal Murray amassed 25 points, two rebounds, six assists and two steals, while Peyton Watson led the bench with 19 points and five boards.
The Warriors (16-18) were led by Stephen Curry, finishing with 30 points, four rebounds and six assists. Klay Thompson tallied 24 points, three rebounds and three assists. Jonathan Kuminga compiled 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. Dario Saric and Brandin Podziesmki led the bench with 13 points apiece. Saric also provided seven points and six assists.
Both teams return to action on Friday, with Denver playing host to the Orlando Magic and Golden State staying home to face the Detroit Pistons.