NBA roundup: Giannis triple-double powers Bucks over Raptors
Giannis Antetokounmpo (30) recorded his fourth triple-double of the season, while Damian Lillard (34) contributed 25 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a decisive 128-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday.
Antetokounmpo tallied 11 points, secured 12 rebounds, and facilitated the Bucks' offense with a season-high 13 assists, helping the team end a two-game losing streak.
Milwaukee had struggled recently, losing four of their last five games, all against teams with subpar records. However, they convincingly defeated the 8-28 Raptors, even in the absence of Khris Middleton due to an ankle injury.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers remarked that Antetokounmpo's playmaking, which included 10 assists in the first half, "set the whole tone for our team."
"When your best player performs like that, it becomes infectious, and the ball movement improves," Rivers noted.
The only setback for the Bucks was a cut on Antetokounmpo's right little finger sustained while attempting to block a shot late in the first half.
Rivers indicated that the injury required stitches to halt the bleeding, but Antetokounmpo insisted on remaining in the game, during which both he and Lillard were able to rest throughout the entire fourth quarter.
In Chicago, Zach LaVine scored 35 points, along with 10 rebounds and eight assists, as the Bulls overcame a 19-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 114-110.
Coby White contributed 23 points, including a crucial layup to take the lead, followed by a dunk that put the Bulls ahead 113-110 with 15.9 seconds remaining, while LaVine sealed the victory with a final free throw.
The Bulls managed to withstand another impressive performance from San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama, who recorded 23 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and eight blocked shots.
In Detroit, Cade Cunningham scored 32 points and provided nine assists, leading the Pistons to overcome an early 22-point deficit and secure a 118-115 win against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Tim Hardaway Jr. played a pivotal role, scoring 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, including two consecutive three-pointers that gave the Pistons a 109-106 lead with under three minutes left in the game.
Portland managed to narrow the gap to just one point on two occasions, trailing 117-115 after Anfernee Simons made a three-pointer with 12 seconds remaining. However, Malik Beasley converted one of his two free throw attempts and secured a crucial steal, ensuring the Pistons achieved their fourth consecutive victory.
In a bid to end their losing streak, the Phoenix Suns experienced a turnaround under coach Mike Budenholzer's revised starting lineup in Philadelphia. Bradley Beal, coming off the bench, contributed 25 points, leading the Suns to a 109-99 triumph over the undermanned 76ers.
After suffering four consecutive losses, Budenholzer opted to reassign Beal and Jusuf Nurkic to bench roles. The Suns faced a 12-point deficit in the first quarter and were down by four at halftime. However, Beal's impressive 20-point performance in the second half, coupled with the Suns' bench outscoring the Sixers' reserves 54-7, turned the tide.
For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey delivered a standout performance with 31 points and 10 assists, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 26 points and 11 rebounds. The team was missing key players Joel Embiid and Kyle Lowry due to injuries.
In New York, the injury-plagued Orlando Magic triumphed over the struggling Knicks with a score of 103-94. Cole Anthony led Orlando with 24 points, and Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 19 points off the bench, despite the absence of their top four scorers: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Moritz Wagner.
The Knicks, who had recently enjoyed a nine-game winning streak, suffered their third consecutive loss, with Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each scoring 24 points.
Meanwhile, in Memphis, Jaren Jackson delivered an impressive performance with 35 points and 13 rebounds, guiding the Grizzlies to a 119-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, who were missing stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, marking their fifth consecutive defeat.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards' 37 points, ended their three-game losing streak with a narrow 108-106 comeback win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
SportsLigue