Knicks beat Bucks, but lose Robinson
Alec Burks and RJ Barrett each scored 21 points to help the New York Knicks to a 102-96 victory Saturday night over the Milwaukee Bucks, who were without Giannis Antetokounmpo and three other injured starters.
The victory was costly for the Knicks, who lost starting center Mitchell Robinson to a broken right foot in the first quarter. He will be re-evaluated when the Knicks return to New York on Sunday.
Burks’ 3-pointer put the Knicks up 99-96 with 1:19 remaining. Milwaukee then missed its next two 3-point attempts, along with a turnover.
Burks hit a technical foul free throw with eight seconds left to make it 100-96.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo had 23 points and Jordan Nwora 21 for the Bucks, who lost their second straight after eight consecutive victories.
Despite a patchwork lineup, the Bucks were within 81-77 after three periods.
Burks and Immanuel Quickley opened the fourth quarter with consecutive 3-pointers to put the Knicks up 87-77.
Barrett’s drive put the Knicks up 96-91, but a 3-pointer by Antetokounmpo and dunk by Brook Lopez tied it at 96.
Milwaukee also was without starters Khris Middleton, Donte DiVincenzo and Jrue Holiday. Forward Bobby Portis, the leading scorer off the bench, missed his second straight game due to COVID-19 protocols.
Wizards 106, Pistons 92 — Russell Westbrook had 19 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Washington Wizards completed a victory over the Detroit Pistons after All-Star guard Bradley Beal’s injury-shortened outing.
Beal had 17 points in 21 minutes before the NBA’s leading scorer departed early in the third quarter, having started the game with a sore right foot.
After nearly giving back a 30-point lead, Westbrook’s NBA-best 15th triple-double helped the Wizards secure just their second win in 10 games since the All-Star break.
Detroit shot 38.8% from the floor and committed 19 turnovers. Its starters were outscored 67-50 despite Beal’s early exit.
Beal appeared to pick up or aggravate an injury late in the second quarter on an awkward fall after driving and charging into Detroit’s Saddiq Bey. He remained in through halftime, but was removed with 8:57 to go in the third as Washington held a 74-46 lead.
Detroit immediately responded with a 23-2 run to close the deficit to 76-69, then eventually got the game within a single possession when Isaiah Stewart’s layup cut it to 82-79. But Washington outscored Detroit 24-13 over the final 10:13.
Rockets 129, Timberwolves 107 — Kevin Porter Jr. scored 25 points in his return to Houston’s lineup, John Wall had 13 points and 12 assists and the Rockets
rebounded to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On Friday night in the series opener, Houston blew a 29-point, secondhalf lead and was outscored 22-0 in the final 7:31 of a 107101 loss. The Rockets came back a night later to win for the second time in four games after a 20-game losing streak.
Kelly Olynyk added 16 points in his first game for Houston after coming over from Miami in the trade for Victor Oladipo. Sterling Brown also had 16 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 15 rebounds for Minnesota, which trailed by as many as 34 points. Malik Beasley scored 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting in his return following a 12-game suspension.
The Rockets were still short-handed with leading scorer Christian Wood declared out before the game with right ankle soreness. Avery Bradley, who came with Olynyk from Miami, didn’t play as the team determines his physical readiness.