Lopez comes up big, Bucks edge short-handed Nets
>> Brook Lopez had 24 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high nine blocks and the Milwaukee Bucks outlasted the short-handed Brooklyn Nets 118-113 on Thursday night.
The nine blocks are most by an NBA player this season. Bobby Portis added a season-high 28 points to go along with 13 rebounds to help the NBA-leading Bucks win for the 19th time in 20 games.
The Bucks were missing two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for a second straight game. Antetokounmpo didn't play due to a sore right hand after sitting out a 134-123 victory at Orlando on Tuesday with a non-COVID illness.
Brooklyn's injury situation was worse.
The Nets didn't have Nic Claxton (right thumb sprain/left Achilles tendinopathy), Spencer Dinwiddie (rest), Cam Johnson (right knee soreness), Royce O'Neale (left knee soreness) and Ben Simmons (left back/knee soreness).
PACERS 134, ROCKETS 125, OT >> Tyrese Haliburton had 28 points and a career-high 19 assists, Buddy Hield hit the goahead 3-pointer in overtime and Indiana beat Houston.
Hield broke a 117-all tie with his fifth 3-pointer and Haliburton scored 12 points after that as the Pacers outscored the Rockets 19-10 in overtime.
Houston rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. made a 3-pointer with four seconds left to force overtime. Smith scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half and had 12 rebounds.
JAZZ 131, MAGIC 124 >> Lauri Markkanen scored 31 points, Talen HortonTucker had 23 and Utah beat Orlando to snap a four-game losing streak.
Simone Fontecchio added 17 points for Utah, and rookie Walker Kessler's 13 points and 10 rebounds included a big three-point play with 35 seconds left after the Magic cut the deficit to a point.
Paolo Banchero scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter for Orlando. Markelle Fultz had 25 points and six assists.
HORNETS 113, PISTONS 103 >> Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 27 points, Terry Rozier had 21 points and nine assists and Charlotte extended Detroit's losing streak to 10 games.
P.J. Washington added 20 points and Nick Richards had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Hornets. Cory Joseph scored 17 points for Detroit.