By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to impress, but the Orlando Magic and the Wagner brothers gave him and the Milwaukee Bucks a good fight.
After a great battle, the Greek Freak and the Bucks resisted the German duo’s magic and finally prevailed with a score of 118-114.
Antetokounmpo finished the match with another strong double-double, scoring 37 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He also dished out six assists and shot with impressive precision from the free-throw line, hitting 15 out of 19 shots. It was his third game of the season with 15 or more free throws made; only Joel Embiid has more.
Thanks to the two-time NBA MVP’s another amazing outing, Milwaukee secured its 15th straight win at Fiserv Forum, their longest single-season home winning streak since 1991-92.
“We were able to enjoy our time at home. Obviously, winning makes you happier. You’re able to enjoy your time more, practices, too, and the time you spend with your family,” Antetokounmpo said.
Orlando certainly showed they are no pushovers, and despite the 11th defeat of the season, they are sitting at the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference standings, with 16 victories.
The Wagner brothers continued to impress after winning the 2023 FIBA World Cup with Germany. Franz finished the game against the Bucks with 29 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Moritz scored 21 points, with eight boards.
As for other European players, Simone Fontecchio had a solid game in Utah Jazz‘s 119-111 victory over the Detroit Pistons, contributing with 16 points, while the Michigan side suffered their 25th straight loss.
Nikola Vucevic showcased his skills in the Chicago Bulls‘ 114-95 triumph against the San Antonio Spurs, scoring 16 points. Victor Wembanyama struggled with only seven points, but the French wunderkind also contributed with five rebounds and assists. Jeremy Sochan performed slightly better for the Spurs, tallying nine points and seven boards.
The Minnesota Timberwolves continued their impressive run, securing their 21st victory of the season against the LA Lakers with a score of 118-111. This handed the Los Angeles team their sixth loss in seven games after winning the inaugural NBA Cup. Rudy Gobert played a pivotal role in the Minneapolis team’s success, recording a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Yet another European player recorded a double-double, as Deni Avdija had 13 points and 11 rebounds in the Washington Wizards‘ 118-117 away win against the Portland Trail Blazers.
NBA results:
Detroit – Utah 111-119 (Bogdanovic 8p – Fontecchio 16p, Samanic 2p)
Cleveland – New Orleans 104-123 (Valanciunas 13p, 7r)
Chicago – San Antonio 114-95 (Vucevic 16p – Sochan 9p, 7r, Wembanyama 7p, Osman 2p)
Memphis – Indiana 116-103 (Aldama 13p)
Milwaukee – Orlando 118-114 (Giannis 37p, 10r – F. Wagner 29p, M. Wagner 21p)
Oklahoma – LA Clippers 134-115 (Dieng 7p – Zubac 6p, Theis 4p)
Minnesota – LA Lakers 118-111 (Gobert 15p, 13r)
Portland – Washington 117-118 (Camara 4p – Avdija 13p, 11r, Gallinari 4p, Coulibaly 2p)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 21-6
2. Milwaukee Bucks 21-7
3. Philadelphia 76ers 19-8
4. Orlando Magic 16-1
5. New York Knicks 16-11
6. Miami Heat 16-12
7. Cleveland Cavaliers 16-13
8. Indiana Pacers 14-13
9. Brooklyn Nets 13-14
10. Atlanta Hawks 12-15
11. Chicago Bulls 13-17
12. Toronto Raptors 11-16
13. Charlotte Hornets 7-19
14. Washington Wizards 5-22
15. Detroit Pistons 2-26
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 21-6
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 18-8
3. Denver Nuggets 19-10
4. Sacramento Kings 16-10
5. Los Angeles Clippers 17-11
6. Dallas Mavericks 16-11
7. New Orleans Pelicans 17-12
8. Houston Rockets 13-12
9. Phoenix Suns 14-13
10. Los Angeles Lakers 15-14
11. Golden State Warriors 13-14
12. Utah Jazz 11-18
13. Memphis Grizzlies 8-19
14. Portland Trail Blazers 7-20
15. San Antonio Spurs 4-23
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins