Giannis leads Bucks over Thunder
Giannis Antetokounmpo sparked the Milwaukee Bucks over Oklahoma City in a showdown of NBA contenders while James Harden lost his first meeting with Philadelphia since the 76ers traded him.
Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds to lead Milwaukee over visiting Oklahoma 118-93.
Khris Middleton added his second career triple-double -- and first since 2018 -- with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Bucks.
Milwaukee improved to 46-25, second in the Eastern Conference by three games over Cleveland.
Oklahoma City fell to 4921, tumbling a half-game behind Denver for the Western Conference lead and a half-game ahead of thirdplace Minnesota.
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored only 12 points, his second-worst game total of the season. It snapped a 29-game run of at least 20 points a game for the NBA’s number two overall scorer, who is just ahead of Antetokounmpo.
On the other hand, Harden, who forced a trade from Philadelphia to the Los Angeles Clippers last November, took a loss in the first meeting between the NBA clubs since the deal.
Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey each scored 24 points to lead the 76ers’ 121-107 road victory.
The Sixers, still without injured 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, pulled ahead early and stopped a late fightback for the victory.
Harden had 12 points, going 0-of-6 from 3-point range, but the 34-year-old guard -- a former MVP and three-time NBA scoring champion -- added a game-high 14 assists.
Kawhi Leonard and reserve Norman Powell each scored 20 points to lead the Clippers.
The 76ers improved to 39-32, one game behind Indiana for the sixth and last East playoff position outside the play-in games.
The Clippers slid to 44-26, only a half-game ahead of New Orleans for fourth in the West.