By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After four straight losses, Milwaukee Bucks are back to winning with Giannis Antetokounpo leading the way for the 123-114 victory against Minnesota Timberwolves.
Antetokounmpo finished the game with 43 points, 20 rebounds, and five assists, and joined Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only players in the NBA history with back-to-back games with at least 40 points, 20 rebounds, and five assists.
“It’s a great compliment to be around those guys. I just want to win games so I just tried to go out there and do whatever I can to push myself to the limit,” Antetokounmpo said after the game.
Kristaps Porzingis also had a terrific game, as he led Washington Wizards to a 119-100 win against Orlando Magic.
The Latvian big man had 30 points and 13 rebounds in the fourth straight victory for the Wizards. Deni Avdija also had a good night for the winning side with 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Franz Wagner was the top scorer of the Florida team with 28 points, Paolo Banchero added 21.
The two-time reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokić led Denver Nuggets to a 124-119 Friday night win against Miami Heat.
The Serbian center finished the game with another triple-double as he recorded 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. He again tied Luka Doncic for most triple-doubles this season.
Vlatko Cancar also made an impact for the Colorado team with 15 points and 5/5 from the field.
Philadelphia 76ers lost to New Orleans Pelicans 127-116, even with another great game from Joel Embiid.
The Cameronian scored 37 points, but CJ McCollum had a night to remember with 42 points and a franchise-record 11 3-pointers. He surpassed Peja Stojakovic’s record of 10 made shots from beyond the arc in a game, set against the Lakers in 2007.
Willy Hernangomez had a solid contribution for the Pelicans with 13 points and four rebounds in 17 minutes.
Sacramento Kings won against Utah Jazz 126-125 thanks to a clutch three-pointer from Kevin Huerter with 10 seconds to go.
Domantas Sabonis had a perfect game with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, shooting 12/12 from the field.
On the other side, Lauri Markkanen dominated with 36 points, but it wasn’t enough for the Jazz.
Chicago Bulls got their fifth win in the last six matches, after beating Detroit Pistons 132-118, with Nikola Vucevic among the best for the winning side with 19 points and nine rebounds.
Bojan Bogdanovic was again one of the best for the Pistons with 20 points and six assists.
Another European player had a big impact last night, as the British player OG Anunoby scored 16 points in a 113-104 win against the Phoenix Suns.
A big game from Lebron James led LA Lakers to a 130-121 win against Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. He scored 47 points, with 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Denis Schroder helped with 12 points and nine assists, while Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 17 points for the losing side.
NBA results:
Orlando Magic – Washington Wizards 100-119 (F. Wagner 28p, Banchero 21p – Porzingis 30p, 13r, Avdija 13p)
Atlanta Hawks – LA Lakers 121-130 (Bogdanovic 17p – Schroder 12p, 9as)
Toronto Raptors – Phoenix Suns 113-104 (Anunoby 16 – Saric 9p)
Chicago Bulls – Detroit Pistons 132-118 (Vucevic 19p, 9r, Dragic 4p – Bojan Bogdanovic 20p)
Milwaukee Bucks – Minnesota Timberwolves 123-114 (Giannis 40p, 23r)
New Orleans Pelicans – Philadelphia 76ers 127-116 (W. Hernangomez 13p – Embiid 37p)
Denver Nuggets – Miami Heat 124-119 (Jokic 19p, 12r, 12as, Cancar 15p)
Golden State Warriors – Portland Trail Blazers 118-112
Sacramento Kings – Utah Jazz 126-125 (Sabonis 28p, 11r, 8as – Markkanen 36p)
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston 26-10
2. Miwaukee 23-12
3. Brooklyn 23-12
4. Cleveland 22-14
5. Philadephia 20-14
6. Indiana 19-17
7. Miami 18-18
8. NY Knicks 18-18
9. Atlanta 17-19
10. Chicago 16-19
11. Toronto 16-20
12. Washington 16-21
13. Orlando 13-24
14. Charlotte 10-26
15. Detroit 9-29
Western Conference
1. New Orleans 23-12
2. Denver 23-12
3. Memphis 21-13
4. LA Clippers 21-16
5. Sacramento 19-15
6. Dallas 20-16
7. Phoenix 20-17
8. Portland 18-17
9. Golden State 19-18
10. Utah 19-19
11. Minnesota 16-20
12. Oklahoma 15-20
13. LA Lakers 15-21
14. San Antonio 12-23
15. Houston 10-25