Bucks withstand Giannis’ calf injury to beat Celtics

Timberwolves’ Edwards scores career-high 51 points victory against the Wizards

MILWAUKEE — On the night they finally snapped their fourgame skid, the Milwaukee Bucks encountered an entirely different reason for worry.

Their two-time MVP is hurt. Giannis Antetokounmpo strained his left calf late Tuesday in the third quarter of the Bucks’ 104-91 victory over the Boston Celtics, who became the first team in NBA history to not shoot a free throw on a night the teams combined for a record-low two attempts.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after the game that Antetokounmpo was undergoing an MRI on his calf and also would have his Achilles tendon tested. Rivers was asked about his concern level.

“High, I would say that,” Rivers said. “He’s Giannis. I think everyone probably feels the same way as I do right now. We’re just going to hope for the best.”

Patrick Beverley had 20 points and 10 rebounds after the Bucks shook up their lineup by having the veteran guard start ahead of Malik Beasley, who came off the bench for the first time all season.

But that lineup change was overshadowed by Antetokounmpo’s situation.

Antetokounmpo was heading up the court late in the third quarter after a Celtics basket when he grabbed his left calf and took a seat. He was helped off the floor, and cameras showed him heading to the locker room under his own power.

The Bucks said Antetokounmpo had a left soleus strain. The soleus is a muscle in the calf.

“Any time you see one of your teammates go down, it’s I think a real level of concern,” Bucks guard Damian Lillard said. “We spend a lot of time around each other ... for it to be your best player, the most important part of our team, at this point in the season, it was like an, ‘Oh, (damn)’ moment, especially because there was nobody else around.”

MAVERICKS 130, HORNETS 104: In Charlotte, N.C., Luka Doncic had 39 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as Dallas continued their surge heading into the postseason, beating Charlotte for their 15th win in 17 games.

The NBA’s leading scorer had 21 points and made five 3-pointers in the first quarter as the Mavericks bolted to a 36-14-point lead. Doncic finished 8 of 17 from beyond the arc in his 21st triple-double of the season.

Daniel Gafford scored 26 points and Kyrie Irving added 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Mavericks.

76ERS 120, PISTONS 102: In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid had 37 points and 11 rebounds and Philadelphia extended their winning streak to six games with a win over Detroit.

Buddy Hield scored 18 and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 17 as the 76ers (4535) continued their push to avoid the Play-In Tournament and stayed in contention for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Jaden Ivey scored 25 points and Evan Fournier added 21 for the Pistons.

PACERS 140, RAPTORS 123: In Toronto, Tyrese Haliburton scored 30 points, Pascal Siakam added 16 points in 26 minutes in his second game back in Toronto and Indiana pulled away early in the second half and beat Toronto.

Obi Toppin scored 23 points and T.J. McConnell added 17 as the Pacers won their third straight to remain in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. THUNDER 112, KINGS 105: In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points in his return from injury, and Oklahoma City rallied from a 20-point deficit to defeat Sacramento as the Kings’ Domantas Sabonis had his double-double streak halted at 61 games.

De’Aaron Fox scored 33 points and Keon Ellis scored a career-high 26 points for the Kings. Sabonis had eight points and 13 rebounds. The game was important to the Kings, too. They entered the night eighth in the Western Conference standings with a shot at avoiding the Play-In Tournament. TIMBERWOLVES 130, WIZARDS 121:

In Minneapolis, Anthony Edwards scored a career-high 51 points and Minnesota overcame an early 21-point deficit with a dominant second half to beat Washington.

Edwards had 30 points in the second half. Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with 23 points and Rudy Gobert had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Wolves, who have won four of five and eight of 10.

KNICKS 128, BULLS 117: In Chicago, Jalen Brunson scored 45 in his second straight 40-point game, and New York beat Chicago.

Brunson delivered his 10th 40-point game this season after scoring 43 in a win at Milwaukee on Sunday. He nailed seven 3-pointers, helping New York win its second in a row after losing four of five. ROCKETS 118, MAGIC 106: In Houston, Fred VanVleet scored a season-high 37 points and Houston snapped a five-game skid with a win against Orlando.

VanVleet made six 3-pointers and had eight rebounds and six assists. Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 points and Dillon Brooks had 15 as the Rockets played their last home game of the season. SPURS 102, GRIZZLIES 87: In Memphis, Tenn., Victor Wembanyama had 18 points, seven blocks, seven rebounds and six assists, Julian Champagnie added 17 points, and San Antonio rode a third-quarter burst to a victory over Memphis.

Sandro Mamukelashvili added a career-best 16 rebounds along with 11 points as the Spurs snapped a 13-game losing steak to the Grizzlies. San Antonio had not beaten Memphis since Dec. 23, 2020. Blake Wesley scored 13 points. HEAT 117, HAWKS 111 (2OT): In Atlanta, Tyler Herro scored four of his 33 points in the second overtime and Miami outlasted Atlanta.

Jimmy Butler had 25 points and nine assists and Nikoa Jovic added 23 points and eight rebounds as the Heat won for the fifth time in seven games.