Middleton leads Bucks vs. Wizards
MILWAUKEE >> Khris Middleton scored a career-high 51 points in the absence of injured teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 151-131 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
Middleton, hoping to be chosen an All-Star reserve for the second straight year on Thursday, helped the Bucks hold off a secondhalf Wizards rally. Middleton also had 10 rebounds and six assists.
Milwaukee (41-6) scored a franchise-record 88 points in the first half, finished with its highest total of the season and won its ninth straight game despite the absence of Antetokounmpo, who sat out with a right shoulder injury.
CELTICS 109, HEAT 101 >> Gordon Hayward had 29 points and nine rebounds, and the Celtics led virtually the entire way.
Jaylen Brown scored
25 points for Boston, and Kemba Walker added 16 points and eight assists. Daniel Theis finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. PELICANS 125, CAVALIERS 111 >> Zion Williamson scored 14 points — all inside — in an uneventful NBA road debut, helping the Pelicans to the victory.
Playing in just his fourth game, Williamson added
nine rebounds in 30 minutes, his most as a pro. He didn’t do anything spectacular or particularly crowd pleasing, but that hardly mattered to the Pelicans, who are just happy to have the hyped rookie on the floor and healthy. RAPTORS 130, HAWKS 114 >> Kyle Lowry had 12 points and 11 assists while becoming Toronto’s career assists leader, and the Raptors earned their season-best eighth straight win.
SUNS 133, MAVERICKS 104 >> Devin Booker scored 20 of his 32 points in the third quarter, Deandre Ayton had a season-high 31 points and the Suns never trailed.
Booker started the scoring in the third before the ball had even been thrown in, making a free throw after the last of three firsthalf technicals against Dallas was called against Tim Hardaway Jr. after the halftime buzzer.
GRIZZLIES 104, NUGGETS 96 >> Dillon Brooks scored 24 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 23 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Grizzlies to their third straight win.
Ja Morant had 14 points as Memphis led from start to finish. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 10 points and blocked a career-high seven shots. HORNETS 97, KNICKS 92 >> Terry Rozier had 30 points and 10 rebounds, and the Hornets snapped an eightgame losing streak.