Jokic, Nuggets outduel Giannis, Bucks

DENVER, CO - MARCH 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks steals the ball from Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the second half of a game at Ball Arena on March 25, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net

Nikola Jokic scored 31 points, dished out 11 assists and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets past Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks 129 – 106.

It was a clash not only between the two conference leaders right now in the NBA standings but also the last two MVPs and current favorites for the 2023 award.. Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points of his own, along with nine rebounds, four assists and four steals but he and the Bucks couldn’t much the Nuggets’ firepower, especially in the second half. Giannis’ 24 points came before the break.

Jamal Murray provided Denver with 26 points, nine assists and six boards as hit team dropped 66 points after the break to take down the Bucks.

Clint Capela produced 17 points and a game-high 17 rebounds to help the Atlanta Hawks defeat the Indiana Pacers 143-130. It was the most productive performance by the Hawks this season and arrived despite the ejection of scoring leader Trae Young in the third period after throwing the ball to a referee.

Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with nine points for the Hawks who remain eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Giannis and Jokic weren’t the only MVP candidates to play Saturday (25/3). In Phoenix, Joel Embiid delivered 28 points and 10 rebounds but the Phoenix Suns prevailed 125 – 105 behind 29 points plus five assists by Devin Booker.

Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey put up 37 points on 7-11 3-point shooting.

Domantas Sabonis produced 16 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists to register a league-best 60th season double-double to help the Sacramento Kings beat the Utah Jazz 121 – 113. While the Kings grabbed their second win in a row, the Jazz suffered their third consecutive loss, in the absence of Lauri Markkanen (left hand contussion).

The rest of Saturday’s results and notable Euro-performers:

Miami Heat – Brooklyn Nets 100 – 129

Los Angeles Clippers – New Orleans Pelicans 110 – 131 (Jonas Valanciunas 17 points – 13 rebounds – Ivica Zubac 13 points – five rebounds)

2022-23 STANDINGS

EAST

TEAM W L LAST 10
1 y-MILWAUKEE 53 21
7-3
2 y-BOSTON 51 23
6-4
3 y-PHILADELPHIA 49 25
9-2
4 CLEVELAND 47 28
8-2
5 NEW YORK 42 33
4-6
6 BROOKLYN 40 34
4-6
7 MIAMI 40 35
6-4
8 ATLANTA 37 37
5-5
9 TORONTO 36 38
5-5
10 CHICAGO 35 38
6-4
11 WASHINGTON 33 41
3-7
12 INDIANA 33 42
4-6
13 ORLANDO 31 43
4-7
14 e-CHARLOTTE 24 51
4-6
15 e-DETROIT 16 58
1-9

WEST

TEAM W L LAST 10
1 y-DENVER 50 24
6-5
2 y-MEMPHIS 46 27
8-2
3 SACRAMENTO 45 29
7-3
4 PHOENIX 39 35 4-6
5 LA CLIPPERS 39 36
6-4
6 GOLDEN STATE 39 36
4-6
7 MINNESOTA 37 37
5-5
8 LA LAKERS 37 37 7-3
9 NEW ORLEANS 37 37 6-4
10 OKLAHOMA CITY 36 38
6-4
11 DALLAS 36 38
3-7
12 UTAH 35 39
4-6
13 PORTLAND 32 41
3-7
14 e-SAN ANTONIO 19 55
3-7
15 e-HOUSTON 18 56
3-7

y-clinched a Playoffs berth
e-eliminated from Playoffs

-Top six teams of each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seeded 7th to 10th will compete in Play-In tournament

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Denver Nuggetsgiannsi antetokounmpoMilwaukee BucksNikola Jokic
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