By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Orlando Magic, 136-118, Thursday evening.
The Greek Freak made 13/22 field goals to go along with 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks in the second consecutive win at Orlando and fifth in a row overall in the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not play, while Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili was inactive. On the opposite end, German Franz Wagner tallied a team-high 20 points behind 6/12 field goals and his brother Moritz Wagner matched his season-best 19 points with 5/15 field goals. Lithuanian Ignas Brazdeikis ended up with nine points.
Israeli Deni Avdija paired 13 points with six rebounds for the Washington Wizards in the win, 110-93, versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. French Joel Ayayi did not get on the board in three minutes and Latvian Davis Bertans was sidelined due to a non-COVID illness. Finnish Lauri Markkanen had 11 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the losing effort with Turkish Cedi Osman in the league’s health and safety protocols and Spanish Ricky Rubio recently ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Elsewhere, Furkan Korkmaz failed to score over 18 minutes but the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 110-102. The Turkish reserve went 0/4 from the field, including 0/3 three-pointers, and missed a couple of free throws.
The Denver Nuggets under the mark of eight players available did not host the Golden State Warriors, as initially scheduled. It was the 11th game postponed this season.
Thursday results:
Brooklyn Nets – Philadelphia 76ers 102-110
Orlando Magic – Milwaukee Bucks 118-136
Washington Wizards – Cleveland Cavaliers 110-93
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Brooklyn Nets 23-10
2. Chicago Bulls 22-10
3. Milwaukee Bucks 24-13
4. Miami Heat 22-13
5. Cleveland Cavaliers 20-15
6. Philadelphia 76ers 19-16
7. Charlotte Hornets 19-17
8. Washington Wizards 18-17
9. New York Knicks 17-18
10. Boston Celtics 16-19
11. Toronto Raptors 14-17
12. Atlanta Hawks 15-19
13. Indiana Pacers 14-21
14. Orlando Magic 7-29
15. Detroit Pistons 5-28
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 27-7
2. Phoenix Suns 27-7
3. Utah Jazz 25-9
4. Memphis Grizzlies 22-14
5. Denver Nuggets 17-16
6. Los Angeles Clippers 18-17
7. Los Angeles Lakers 17-19
8. Dallas Mavericks 16-18
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 16-18
10. San Antonio Spurs 14-19
11. Sacramento Kings 15-21
12. Portland Trail Blazers 13-21
13. New Orleans Pelicans 13-22
14. Oklahoma City Thunder 12-22
15. Houston Rockets 10-25