Giannis returns to power Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a right ankle sprain to score 28 points and grab 11 rebounds, powering the Milwaukee Bucks to a 131-121 NBA victory at Brooklyn.
The Greek star, who sat out a game due to the setback, lifted an injury-hit Milwaukee squad within one game of clinching the best regular-season record in the league and a homecourt edge throughout the NBA playoffs.
"I thought it would be a really good team but to be honest with you I didn't think we would be the best team in the NBA," Antetokounmpo said.
Eric Bledsoe added 29 points and reserve George Hill had 22 off the bench for the Bucks, who lead the Eastern Conference at 58-20 and can clinch the best NBA mark with a win Thursday at Philadelphia.
Elswehere, Danny Green powered Toronto with 29 points and the Raptors stayed in the hunt for the overall top spot with a 121-109 home victory over Orlando, improving to 55-23 with four games remaining.
And the Raptors clinched no worse than second in the East when Philadelphia lost 122-102 at Dallas, the 76ers falling to 49-28.
Justin Jackson led the Mavericks with 24 points while Tunisian reserve center Salah Mejri added 16 points and 14 rebounds for Dallas.
The Sixers, playing without Joel Embiid, got 26 points from J.J. Redick, 25 from Tobias Harris and 17 from Australian guard Ben Simmons in the loss.
All five teams battling for the final three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference lost Monday, moving Detroit (39-38), Brooklyn (39-39) and Miami (38-39) nearer the post-season with Orlando (39-40) and Charlotte still chasing and hoping.
Despite Kemba Walker's 47-point effort, Charlotte lost 111-102 at Utah and slid to 3542, staying three games behind Miami for the eighth and final playoff position.
Donovan Mitchell led Utah with 25 points while Spanish guard Ricky Rubio had 20 points and 13 assists and French center Rudy Gobert added 18 points and 18 rebounds for the Jazz.
Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic each scored 19 points to lead seven players in double figures for Indiana in a 111-102 home victory over Detroit.
Domantas Sabonis had 18 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for the Pacers while Andre Drummond had 18 points and 17 rebounds for the Pistons.
Portland matched Houston for third in the Western Conference at 49-28 with a 132-122 triumph at Minnesota. Rodney Hood scored 21 points and Enes Kanter added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves.