By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Despite posting up a huge performance of 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn’t avoid the defeat for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The winning side was without LeBron James, but D’Angelo Russell took care of business by scoring a season-high 44 points (21 in the fourth quarter).
Doc Rivers commented on his team’s loss in the post-game press conference, praising the duo composed of the Greek Freak and Damian Lillard. “There was a stretch where Damian [Lillard] and Giannis [Antetokounmpo] were playing a two-man game, and it was unstoppable. We want to encourage that more and more”, he said.
The two-time NBA MVP and leader of the franchise recorded the eighth triple-double of the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season, the first one since January 24, and the 43rd of his whole career.
Elsewhere in the night, Israeli forward Deni Avdija had a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds to push an already eliminated from playoffs contention Washington against Charlotte. On the losing side, Vasilije Micic started and finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.
NBA Results and other European performances
Philadelphia 76ers – New Orleans Pelicans 95-103 (Valanciunas 6 p, 10 r)
Washington Wizards – Charlotte Hornets 112-100 (Coulibaly 11 p, 4 r; Bertans 11 p, 6 r, 3 a)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Minnesota Timberwolves 113-104 OT (Gobert 7 p, 17 r)
New York Knicks – Orlando Magic 98-74 (Franz Wagner 13 p, 4 r; Moritz Wagner 4 p; Bojan Bogdanovic 6 p)
Memphis Grizzlies – Atlanta Hawks 92-99 (Capela 15 p, 11 r; Bogdan Bogdanovic 16 p, 6 r, 3 a; Aldama 13 p, 5 r)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Miami Heat 107-100 (Jovic 7 p, 8 r)
Los Angeles Lakers – Milwaukee Bucks 123-122
Portland Trail Blazers – Houston Rockets 107-123 (Sengun 19 p, 9 r, 6 a)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 48-14
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 41-22
3. Milwaukee Bucks 41-23
4. New York Knicks 37-26
5. Orlando Magic 37-27
6. Miami Heat 35-28
7. Philadelphia 76ers 35-28
8. Indiana Pacers 35-29
9. Chicago Bulls 31-32
10. Atlanta Hawks 29-34
11. Brooklyn Nets 25-38
12. Toronto Raptors 23-40
13. Charlotte Hornets 15-48
14. Detroit Pistons 10-52
15. e-Washington Wizards 10-53
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 44-19
2. Minnesota Timberwolves 44-20
3. Denver Nuggets 43-20
4. Los Angeles Clippers 40-21
5. New Orleans Pelicans 38-25
6. Phoenix Suns 37-26
7. Sacramento Kings 36-26
8. Dallas Mavericks 35-28
9. Los Angeles Lakers 35-30
10. Golden State Warriors 33-29
11. Houston Rockets 28-35
12. Utah Jazz 28-35
13. Memphis Grizzlies 22-42
14. Portland Trail Blazers 17-45
15. e-San Antonio Spurs 13-50
e-eliminated from Playoffs
– Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
– Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images