Antetokounmpo lifts Bucks over Cavaliers
MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points, Eric Bledsoe had 26 and the Milwaukee Bucks held off the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-116 on Tuesday night.
Milwaukee ended a five-game losing streak to Cleveland. Khris Middleton had 18 points and 10 assists, and Malcolm Brogdon scored 16 points.
LeBron James scored 39 points for Cleveland, which lost for just the second time in its last 20 games. James had seven assists but grabbed just one rebound in the waning seconds. Kevin Love finished with 21 points.
After a slow start, the Bucks got to the Cavaliers for 39 second-quarter points. Milwaukee cracked the 100-point barrier early in the fourth, but then stalled.
Milwaukee led 103-83 when Cleveland launched a furious comeback. Back-toback 3-pointers by Dwyane Wade put the Cavaliers up 107-105, capping a 24-3 run and giving the visitors their first lead since the second quarter.
A 3-pointer by Brogdon put the Bucks back in front with 3:38 remaining. A traditional three-point play by James put the Cavaliers ahead 113-112 with about two minutes left.
Tony Snell responded with a 3-pointer for Milwaukee with 58.9 seconds remaining. After a Cleveland miss, Antetokounmpo grabbed a loose ball, hit a short shot and was fouled. His free throw gave the Bucks a 117-113 lead with 5.9 seconds to go.
Wade finished with 14 points for Cleveland, and Jeff Green had 13.
Milwaukee took its first lead early in the second quarter at 41-40 with Love and James on the bench. The Bucks remained hot even after the duo returned and at one point extended their advantage to 14. They led 69-58 at the half, sparked by 17 points from Middleton, who had a four-point play, as well as a 14-2 advantage in fast-break points.
Bradley Beal scored 26 points, Mike Scott had a season-high 24 and Washington beat New Orleans at home. John Wall added 18 points and 10 assists, helping Washington win for the third time in four games. Marcin Gortat had 10 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. New Orleans got another big game from Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, but the Pelicans dropped their second straight after alternating losses and wins in their first nine games in December. Davis scored 37 points, and Cousins finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds. After New Orleans tied it at 61 early in the third quarter, the Wizards went on a 24-5 run to take an 85-66 lead with 1:23 to play. Beal added two 3-pointers to make it 91-68 just before the end of the third quarter. It was a welcome change of pace for Washington after struggling to put teams away of late. In two wins last week against Memphis and the Los Angeles Clippers, the Wizards surrendered sizable second-half leads before holding on.
Zach Randolph scored 27 points and Buddy Hield added 24 to lead Sacramento to a road victory over Philadelphia. Ben Simmons had 13 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for slumping Philadelphia, which lost for the seventh time in eight games while playing without center Joel Embiid for the second straight night due to a back injury.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will miss at least one more week with a sprained right ankle. The team said the ankle is healing well and Curry has been cleared to do modified on-court workouts.
NEW YORK — The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the NFL in one category this season: most Pro Bowl players.
Receiver Antonio Brown, running back Le’Veon Bell and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger are among eight Steelers selected for the all-star game. They will be joined on Jan. 28 in Orlando, Florida, by left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, right guard David DeCastro, center Maurkice Pouncey and kicker Chris Boswell. Linebacker Ryan Shazier, who is injured, also was selected. Brown, also injured but expected back for the playoffs, was voted a starter, as were Bell and the three offensive linemen.
The Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints each placed six players in the game in balloting announced Tuesday.
Four rookies were chosen in voting by NFL players, coaches and fans: running backs Alvin Kamara of the Saints and Kareem Hunt of the Chiefs, former Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore of the Saints, and safety Budda Baker of the Cardinals as a special teamer.
Five teams have no representatives: the Jets, Browns, Colts, Bears and Packers.
Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins was selected as an AFC starter. It is the sixth Pro Bowl for Atkins, which tied him with former cornerback Lemar Parrish for most in franchise history by a defensive player. Atkins has a team-high nine sacks, which also leads all NFL interior defensive linemen. He also is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 10.
Bengals receiver A.J. Green made his seventh straight Pro Bowl despite having a down season statistically with 67 catches, 980 yards and eight touchdowns.
Packers put Rodgers on injured reserve
The Green Bay Packers put quarterback Aaron Rodgers on injured reserve Tuesday, a day after they were eliminated from playoff contention.
Rodgers missed seven games after breaking his right collarbone Oct. 15 against Minnesota. He returned on Sunday, but the Packers lost 31-24 at Carolina, ending Green Bay’s postseason chances.
Davis’ suspension cut to one game
The NFL reduced Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis’ suspension from two games to one following his appeal.
The league announced the reduced ban Tuesday. Davis was suspended Monday after his helmetto-helmet hit on Packers receiver Davante Adams. Davis can return to play in the Panthers’ regularseason finale on Dec. 31 against Atlanta.