By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Pulling away in the fourth quarter, the Milwaukee Bucks secured a win, 144-122, versus the Brooklyn Nets in Barclays Center on Wednesday.
Initially listed as questionable to play, Giannis Antetokounmpo suited up and scored a game-high 32 points against the shorthanded Nets. The Greek Freak connected 10/12 field goals over 30 minutes. Packing ten rebounds and eight assists alongside two blocks, he neared a triple-double as his side jumped to 23-8 in the NBA Regular Season. His brother Thanasis sneaked in two assists into one minute of action. Longtime sidekick Khris Middleton put up 27 points with 11/18 field goals.
Dealing with left quad soreness, Slovenian star Luka Doncic led all scorers with 39 points but the Dallas Mavericks were upset by the Cleveland Cavaliers, 113-110, in American Airlines Center. He finished with 14/29 field goals, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks in the losing effort. German teammate Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) remained on the injury list. For the Cavs, Spanish Ricky Rubio has been away from the team since the start of the 2023-24 season.
German Franz Wagner dropped 24 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal, but the Orlando Magic lost, 112-92, to the Philadelphia 76ers in Kia Center. His brother Moritz logged two points, two rebounds, and one assist, Georgian Goga Bitadze had two points, four blocks, and one rebound, and British Admiral Schofield did not get on the board in a brief showing. On the Sixers, Turkish Furkan Korkmaz did not play and French Nicolas Batum (right hamstring strain) was sidelined.
More games and European showings
Washington Wizards – Toronto Raptors 102-132 (Deni Avdija 12pts, 2reb, 2stl, 1ast, Bilal Coulibaly 10pts, 4reb, 2ast, Danilo Gallinari 1reb – O.G. Anunoby 26pts, 11ast, 6reb, 1stl, Jakob Poeltl 10pts, 8reb, 2at, 2stl, 1blk, Dennis Schroder 9pts, 10ast, 4reb)
Houston Rockets – Phoenix Suns 113-129 (Alperen Sengun 24pts, 5reb, 2stl, 1ast, Boban Marjanovic DNP – Jusuf Nurkic 8pts, 10reb, 2blk, Theo Maledon INA)
Oklahoma City Thunder – New York Knicks 129-120 (Davis Bertans 3pts, 1reb, Vasilije Micic DNP, Aleksej Pokusevski DNP, Ousmane Dieng INA, Olivier Sarr INA – Isaiah Hartenstein 4pts, 9reb, 2ast, 1blk, Evan Fournier DNP, Dmytro Skapintsev DNP)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 23-6
2. Milwaukee Bucks 23-8
3. Philadelphia 76ers 21-9
4. Miami Heat 18-12
5. Orlando Magic 18-12
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 18-13
7. New York Knicks 17-13
8. Indiana Pacers 15-14
9. Brooklyn Nets 15-16
10. Chicago Bulls 14-18
11. Toronto Raptors 12-18
12. Atlanta Hawks 12-18
13. Charlotte Hornets 7-21
14. Washington Wizards 5-25
15. Detroit Pistons 2-28
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 22-7
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 20-9
3. Denver Nuggets 22-10
4. Los Angeles Clippers 18-12
5. Sacramento Kings 17-12
6. Dallas Mavericks 18-13
7. New Orleans Pelicans 17-14
8. Houston Rockets 15-14
9. Los Angeles Lakers 16-15
10. Phoenix Suns 15-15
11. Golden State Warriors 15-15
12. Utah Jazz 13-18
13. Memphis Grizzlies 10-19
14. Portland Trail Blazers 8-21
15. San Antonio Spurs 4-25
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
Photo Credit: Getty Images