By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
On the eve of his 27th birthday, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 112-104 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a symbolic performance.
The Greek Freak posted 27 points to match his special day, along with 12 rebounds and 2 assists as the Bucks cruised to another victory to climb up in the third position of the Eastern Conference standings.
Jarrett Allen led the Cavs with 25 points and Lauri Markkanen posted 20 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
The Atlanta Hawks got past the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 121-110 victory on Monday night, as Trae Young led the way with a double-double of 29 points and 11 assists. Timothe Luwanu-Cabarrot tapped 23 points, Danilo Gallinari contributed 20 points coming off of the bench and Clint Capela added 9 points and 16 rebounds for the Hawks, which bounced back from a two-game skid.
Karl-Anthony Towns had a game-high with 31 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists for the Timberwolves, Malik Beasley dropped 24 coming from the bench and Leandro Bolmaro got valuable minutes (18) to contribute 2 points and 3 rebounds for his team.
DeMar DeRozan entered NBA’s health and safety protocols, though the Chicago Bulls stood strong to beat the Denver Nuggets 109-97 at home. Zach LaVine tapped 32 points, while Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball both had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls.
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double with 17 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds, though it wasn’t enough for the Nuggets down the final stretch.
Joel Embiid had a season-high 43 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to an epic 127-124 win in overtime against the Charlotte Hornets. Tobias Harris returned from a one-game absence with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had a stellar game with 35 points and six 3-pointers for the Hornets but missed a three at the end of the first overtime that would have forced a second one.
Jusuf Nurkic’s 31-point performance for the Portland Trail Blazers fell short for the third consecutive game, as the team lost to LA Clippers at home 102-90.
Paul George had 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals to lead the Clippers, Marcus Morris Jr. added 17 and Luke Kennard exited the game with 15 in his first start with the team.
Domantas Sabonis dropped 30 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a narrow 116-110 victory over the Washington Wizards. Bradley Beal tapped a game-high performance with 34 points for the Wizards.
The Oklahoma City Thunder finally bounced back from an eight-game skid, paced behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who tapped 30 points and 13 assists and Luguentz Dort who exited the game with 28 points.
The Pistons also entered the game with an eight-game skid, though Cade Cunningham’s 28-point performance wasn’t enough to save the day for the team.
Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane both tapped 21 points to help the Memphis Grizzlies prevail over the Miami Heat 105-90, for their fifth straight win without Ja Morant. Steven Adams added up to the list of top scorers with 17 points and 16 rebounds, while Tyus Jones and Jaren Jackson scored 14 points each.
Tyler Herro had 24 points and Kyle Lowry finished with 17 points for the Heat, who have lost four of five and three straight at home. The Heat also saw Jimmy Butler return from a four-game absence, though he left at the third quarter and did not return to the game. He posted 10 points in his return.
Clutch Chris Paul posted 21 points and 10 assists with a few decisive plays to lift the Phoenix Suns to a 108-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Jae Crowder added a season-high 19 points, while on the other end of the court, Dejounte Murray tapped 17 points.
The Golden State Warriors made short work of the Orlando Magic and grabbed a 126-95 victory at home, with Stephen Curry leading the way once again with 31 points. Andrew Wiggins followed with 28 points for the winning side. On the other end, Gary Harris had 17 points for the Magic.
December 6 results:
Philadelphia 76ers – Charlotte Hornets 127-124 (OT)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Detroit Pistons 114-103
Washington Wizards – Indiana Pacers 110-116
Memphis Grizzlies – Miami Heat 105-90
Denver Nuggets – Chicago Bulls 97-109
Cleveland Cavaliers – Milwaukee Bucks 104-112
Atlanta Hawks – Minnesota Timberwolves 121-110
San Antonio Spurs – Phoenix Suns 104-108
Orlando Magic – Golden State Warriors 95-126
LA Clippers – Portland Trail Blazers 102-90
Standings:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 7 | .696 | — | 13-5 | 4-0 | 8-5 | 8-2 | 0-0 | 7-3 | L 1 | |
|
2. Chicago Bulls |
17 | 8 | .680 | — | 10-5 | 2-1 | 8-4 | 9-4 | 0-0 | 7-3 | W 4 |
|
3. Milwaukee Bucks |
16 | 9 | .640 | 1 | 12-6 | 5-0 | 9-4 | 7-5 | 0-1 | 9-1 | W 2 |
|
4. Miami Heat |
14 | 11 | .560 | 3 | 8-5 | 3-1 | 6-4 | 8-7 | 0-2 | 4-6 | L 2 |
|
5. Washington Wizards |
14 | 11 | .560 | 3 | 9-9 | 3-4 | 8-3 | 6-8 | 2-0 | 4-6 | L 3 |
| 13 | 11 | .542 | 3.5 | 8-8 | 3-3 | 6-4 | 7-7 | 2-2 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
|
7. Philadelphia 76ers |
13 | 11 | .542 | 3.5 | 8-7 | 0-5 | 5-5 | 8-6 | 1-1 | 5-5 | W 2 |
|
8. Charlotte Hornets |
14 | 12 | .538 | 3.5 | 10-7 | 5-2 | 7-3 | 7-9 | 0-4 | 5-5 | L 1 |
|
9. Cleveland Cavaliers |
13 | 12 | .520 | 4 | 9-6 | 1-1 | 5-7 | 8-5 | 0-0 | 4-6 | L 2 |
|
10. Atlanta Hawks |
13 | 12 | .520 | 4 | 7-7 | 3-2 | 8-4 | 5-8 | 0-0 | 7-3 | W 1 |
|
11. New York Knicks |
11 | 12 | .478 | 5 | 8-10 | 3-2 | 5-8 | 6-4 | 1-0 | 4-6 | L 3 |
|
12. Toronto Raptors |
11 | 13 | .458 | 5.5 | 9-8 | 3-3 | 4-8 | 7-5 | 0-0 | 4-6 | W 2 |
|
13. Indiana Pacers |
10 | 16 | .385 | 7.5 | 6-12 | 1-3 | 7-6 | 3-10 | 1-2 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
14. Orlando Magic |
5 | 20 | .200 | 12 | 2-16 | 0-5 | 2-8 | 3-12 | 0-0 | 1-9 | L 2 |
|
15. Detroit Pistons |
4 | 19 | .174 | 12 | 3-11 | 1-5 | 2-9 | 2-10 | 0-0 | 1-9 | L 9 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20 | 4 | .833 | — | 11-3 | 5-1 | 13-2 | 7-2 | 0-1 | 8-2 | W 1 |
|
2. Phoenix Suns |
20 | 4 | .833 | — | 14-4 | 3-2 | 11-2 | 9-2 | 0-0 | 9-1 | W 1 |
|
3. Utah Jazz |
16 | 7 | .696 | 3.5 | 9-2 | 4-0 | 9-4 | 7-3 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 4 |
|
4. Memphis Grizzlies |
14 | 10 | .583 | 6 | 11-5 | 2-1 | 8-5 | 6-5 | 2-0 | 7-3 | W 5 |
|
5. LA Clippers |
13 | 12 | .520 | 7.5 | 10-10 | 1-4 | 9-7 | 4-5 | 0-1 | 4-6 | W 1 |
| 11 | 11 | .500 | 8 | 9-6 | 6-2 | 6-5 | 5-6 | 1-0 | 3-7 | L 2 | |
| 12 | 12 | .500 | 8 | 6-8 | 1-4 | 8-7 | 4-5 | 4-1 | 4-6 | L 1 | |
|
8. Denver Nuggets |
11 | 12 | .478 | 8.5 | 6-6 | 2-2 | 7-4 | 4-8 | 0-0 | 2-8 | L 1 |
|
9. Minnesota Timberwolves |
11 | 13 | .458 | 9 | 7-8 | 0-1 | 7-7 | 4-6 | 1-1 | 6-4 | L 3 |
|
10. Portland Trail Blazers |
11 | 14 | .440 | 9.5 | 6-10 | 1-2 | 10-4 | 1-10 | 0-0 | 4-6 | L 3 |
|
11. Sacramento Kings |
10 | 14 | .417 | 10 | 8-11 | 4-3 | 4-8 | 6-6 | 1-0 | 4-6 | W 2 |
|
12. San Antonio Spurs |
8 | 14 | .364 | 11 | 3-11 | 0-3 | 4-6 | 4-8 | 0-1 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
13. Houston Rockets |
7 | 16 | .304 | 12.5 | 4-12 | 1-2 | 6-5 | 1-11 | 1-0 | 6-4 | W 6 |
|
14. Oklahoma City Thunder |
7 | 16 | .304 | 12.5 | 6-9 | 0-2 | 4-7 | 3-9 | 0-0 | 2-8 | W 1 |
| 7 | 19 | .269 | 14 | 6-11 | 2-3 | 3-8 | 4-11 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 1 |
Photo: Getty Images