By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Charlotte Hornets threatened to end the reigning champions’ winning streak on Wednesday, though Giannis Antetokounmpo had other plans.
With just two seconds remaining in regulation, Antetokounmpo scored on a driving layup to finally lift the Milwaukee Bucks to a 127-125 victory against the Hornets, their eighth in a row.
The Greek Freak was one assist short of a triple-double, posting 40 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks. His game-winner spoiled Lonzo Ball’s career night, as the 2017 second overall draft pick had 36 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds to lead the Hornets.
Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis took action for the Dallas Mavericks in a 139-107 blowout against the New Orleans Pelicans, to snap back from a two-game skid.
Doncic led the way for the Mavs with 28 points, 14 assists and 4 rebounds in just 27 minutes and Porzingis also posted a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Brandon Ingram had a game-high performance with 29 points for the Pelicans, while Jonas Valanciunas and Tomas Satoransky both contributed 6 points.
The short-staffed Atlanta Hawks struggled but managed to beat the Indiana Pacers 114-111. Trae Young posted a double-double with 33 points and 10 rebounds and Clint Capela had 8 points and 9 rebounds for the Hawks that have now won 8 of their last 9 games.
Malcolm Brogdon had 27 points to lead the Pacers and Domantas Sabonis added a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Pacers have now suffered their third consecutive defeat and slipped further down the Eastern Conference standings with a 9-15 record.
The Orlando Magic bounced back from a 16-point deficit to defeat the Denver Nuggets 108-103. Cole Anthony had 24 points and 8 rebounds for the winners and Wendell Carter Jr. posted 18.
On the other end, the Nuggets are struggling despite MVP Nikola Jokic’s return to action and have lost 7 of their last 8 games. Monte Morris added 22 points for Denver and Jokic had 18 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists.
Montrezl Harrell tapped 27 points in 21 minutes coming from the bench and helped the Washington Wizards top Minnesota Timberwolves 115-107. Bradley Beal followed with 19 points and 9 assists and Davis Bertans contributed 15 points in 16 minutes also coming off of the bench.
Karl Anthony-Towns posted 34 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves before exiting the game in the fourth quarter with a minor injury after a dunk.
Jayson Tatum posted 26 points and a new career-high of 16 rebounds to lift the Boston Celtics to a narrow 88-87 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Seth Curry dropped 17 points for the Sixers and Joel Embiid had 13 points and 18 rebounds.
The Sacramento Kings bounced back from a two-game losing streak to take down the LA Clippers on the road 124-115. DeAaron Fox led the way with 24 points, Terrence Davis added 23, and Richaun Holmes had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Terance Mann and Luke Kennard both posted 19 points for the Clippers, Ivica Zubac added 17 points and 7 boards and Isaiah Hartenstein followed with 11 points and 8 boards.
December 1 results:
Atlanta Hawks – Indiana Pacers 114 – 111
Denver Nuggets – Orlando Magic 103 – 108
Minnesota Timberwolves – Washington Wizards 107 – 115
Philadelphia 76ers – Boston Celtics 87 -88
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 111- 85
Charlotte Hornets – Milwaukee Bucks 125 – 127
Dallas Mavericks – New Orleans Pelicans 139 – 107
Houston Rockets – Oklahoma City Thunder 114 – 110
Sacramento Kings – LA Clippers 124 – 115
Standings:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15 | 6 | .714 | — | 13-4 | 4-0 | 7-4 | 8-2 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 1 |
|
2. Washington Wizards |
14 | 8 | .636 | 1.5 | 9-6 | 3-4 | 8-2 | 6-6 | 2-0 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
3. Milwaukee Bucks |
14 | 8 | .636 | 1.5 | 10-5 | 4-0 | 7-4 | 7-4 | 0-1 | 8-2 | W 8 |
|
4. Chicago Bulls |
14 | 8 | .636 | 1.5 | 8-5 | 2-1 | 7-4 | 7-4 | 0-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
|
5. Miami Heat |
13 | 9 | .591 | 2.5 | 7-4 | 3-1 | 6-3 | 7-6 | 0-2 | 6-4 | L 2 |
|
6. Cleveland Cavaliers |
12 | 10 | .545 | 3.5 | 8-5 | 1-0 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 0-0 | 5-5 | W 3 |
|
7. Atlanta Hawks |
12 | 10 | .545 | 3.5 | 7-5 | 3-1 | 8-2 | 4-8 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 1 |
|
8. Boston Celtics |
12 | 10 | .545 | 3.5 | 8-8 | 3-3 | 6-4 | 6-6 | 2-2 | 6-4 | W 2 |
|
9. Charlotte Hornets |
13 | 11 | .542 | 3.5 | 9-6 | 4-2 | 7-2 | 6-9 | 0-3 | 6-4 | L 3 |
|
10. New York Knicks |
11 | 10 | .524 | 4 | 8-9 | 3-2 | 5-6 | 6-4 | 1-0 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
11. Philadelphia 76ers |
11 | 11 | .500 | 4.5 | 6-7 | 0-5 | 5-5 | 6-6 | 0-1 | 3-7 | L 1 |
|
12. Toronto Raptors |
9 | 13 | .409 | 6.5 | 7-8 | 3-3 | 2-8 | 7-5 | 0-0 | 3-7 | L 3 |
|
13. Indiana Pacers |
9 | 15 | .375 | 7.5 | 5-11 | 1-3 | 6-5 | 3-10 | 1-2 | 3-7 | L 3 |
|
14. Orlando Magic |
5 | 18 | .217 | 11 | 2-16 | 0-5 | 2-8 | 3-10 | 0-0 | 2-8 | W 1 |
|
15. Detroit Pistons |
4 | 17 | .190 | 11 | 3-11 | 1-5 | 2-8 | 2-9 | 0-0 | 2-8 | L 7 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18 | 3 | .857 | — | 13-3 | 3-1 | 9-2 | 9-1 | 0-0 | 10-0 | W 17 |
|
2. Golden State Warriors |
18 | 3 | .857 | — | 10-2 | 4-1 | 11-1 | 7-2 | 0-1 | 8-2 | L 1 |
|
3. Utah Jazz |
14 | 7 | .667 | 4 | 9-2 | 4-0 | 8-4 | 6-3 | 0-0 | 6-4 | W 2 |
|
4. Dallas Mavericks |
11 | 9 | .550 | 6.5 | 9-4 | 6-0 | 6-3 | 5-6 | 1-0 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
5. Memphis Grizzlies |
11 | 10 | .524 | 7 | 9-5 | 1-1 | 7-5 | 4-5 | 2-0 | 5-5 | W 2 |
|
6. Los Angeles Lakers |
12 | 11 | .522 | 7 | 6-7 | 1-3 | 8-6 | 4-5 | 4-1 | 5-5 | W 2 |
|
7. LA Clippers |
11 | 11 | .500 | 7.5 | 8-9 | 0-3 | 9-7 | 2-4 | 0-1 | 3-7 | L 3 |
|
8. Portland Trail Blazers |
11 | 11 | .500 | 7.5 | 6-8 | 1-2 | 10-1 | 1-10 | 0-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
|
9. Minnesota Timberwolves |
11 | 11 | .500 | 7.5 | 7-8 | 0-1 | 7-6 | 4-5 | 1-1 | 7-3 | L 1 |
|
10. Denver Nuggets |
10 | 11 | .476 | 8 | 6-6 | 2-2 | 7-4 | 3-7 | 0-0 | 3-7 | L 1 |
|
11. Sacramento Kings |
9 | 14 | .391 | 10 | 7-11 | 3-3 | 3-8 | 6-6 | 1-0 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
12. San Antonio Spurs |
6 | 13 | .316 | 11 | 1-10 | 0-3 | 4-6 | 2-7 | 0-1 | 3-7 | W 2 |
|
13. Oklahoma City Thunder |
6 | 15 | .286 | 12 | 6-8 | 0-2 | 4-7 | 2-8 | 0-0 | 1-9 | L 7 |
|
14. New Orleans Pelicans |
6 | 18 | .250 | 13.5 | 5-10 | 1-2 | 3-8 | 3-10 | 0-0 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
15. Houston Rockets |
5 | 16 | .238 | 13 | 3-12 | 0-2 | 4-5 | 1-11 | 1-0 | 4-6 | W 4 |
Photo: Getty Images