Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined for 25 points in the first quarter, which helped the Milwaukee Bucks win 130-115 over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night, ending the Kings’ seven-game winning streak.
Antetokounmpo finished with 33 points, leading all scorers, and added a triple-double with 13 assists and 11 rebounds. Lillard contributed 24 points. The Bucks bounced back from a heavy loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday and earned their fourth win in the last five games.
DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points, and De’Aaron Fox posted a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Kings, who lost for only the second time in their last nine games. Domantas Sabonis came close to a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Hawks 122, Suns 117
Trae Young scored a season-high 43 points for Atlanta, leading them to a victory over Phoenix, snapping the Suns’ three-game winning streak. Young made 13 of 31 shots, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range, and added 5 assists.
Onyeka Okongwu had a career-high 21 rebounds and scored 22 points, while Garrison Mathews added 19 points off the bench. Phoenix was led by Devin Booker, who scored 35 points, and Kevin Durant, who added 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Thunder 118, 76ers 102
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points on 12-of-15 shooting, leading Oklahoma City to a win over a short-handed Philadelphia team. Gilgeous-Alexander also had 9 assists. Jalen Williams scored 24 points, and Cason Wallace added 18 for the Thunder.
Philadelphia played without many key players, including Joel Embiid (foot), Tyrese Maxey (hand), and Paul George (ankle). Justin Edwards and Jeff Dowtin Jr. set career highs with 25 and 18 points, respectively, in the loss.
Cavaliers 127, Pacers 117
Donovan Mitchell scored 27 of his 35 points in the first half to help Cleveland defeat Indiana, ending the Pacers’ six-game winning streak. Darius Garland added 24 points and 7 assists, and Evan Mobley had 22 points and 13 rebounds.
For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam scored 23 points, and Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner contributed 19 and 17 points, respectively.
Nuggets 118, Mavericks 99
Jamal Murray scored a season-high 45 points, leading Denver to a win over Dallas to complete a two-game sweep. Michael Porter Jr. added 13 points and 6 rebounds, while Nikola Jokic had 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, earning his 16th triple-double of the season.
Kyrie Irving, returning from a five-game absence, scored 11 points but struggled with his shot, making just 4 of 18 attempts. Dallas lost for the seventh time in their last nine games.
Pelicans 119, Bulls 113
Trey Murphy III scored a game-high 32 points, and Zion Williamson added 21 points and 9 assists as New Orleans defeated Chicago. The Pelicans outscored Chicago 33-27 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Chicago used a late 10-1 run to pull within four points, but New Orleans held on, with the Pelicans finishing strong at the free-throw line. Zach LaVine paced the Bulls with 25 points, and Nikola Vucevic contributed 22 points and 15 rebounds.
Nets 132, Trail Blazers 114
Brooklyn snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over Portland, despite a career-best 39 points from Scoot Henderson. Cameron Johnson scored 24 points for the Nets, and Noah Clowney and Keon Johnson added 20 points each.
Henderson, who also had 6 assists, shot 13-of-18 from the field and 8-of-10 from 3-point range. Portland’s Toumani Camara also posted a career-high 23 points, and Shaedon Sharpe added 21 points.
