Antetokounmpo is too much for Celtics

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, Khris Middleton made a three-point shot in the closing seconds and the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks held off the Boston Celtics 98-97 on Thursday night at Milwaukee.

The Celtics had the last possession, but with Eric Bledsoe draped all over him Kyrie Irving seemed to stumble as he drove the lane and missed an awkward shot as time expired.

“Kyrie with the ball; that’s what we wanted,” said Celtics center Al Horford, who finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds. “Get the ball in Kyrie’s hands. Let him create. I felt like we put ourselves in a good position there.”

Said Irving: “It happens. Just part of the [All-Star] break and coming off and playing the first game, getting the cold ones out.”

Antetokounmpo added 13 rebounds, Middleton had 15 points and a season-high 13 rebounds, and Malcolm Brogdon scored 15 points for the Bucks.

Milwaukee has won 15 of its last 17 games and nine of its last 10.

at Golden State 125, Sacramento 123:

Stephen Curry made 10 threepoint shots on his way to 36 points and the Warriors survived a hectic finish to avoid consecutive losses. Curry made 12 of 23 shots overall, 10 of 16 from beyond the arc. Kevin Durant had 28 points, nine rebounds and matched a career high with seven blocks, and DeMarcus Cousins had 17 points and 10 rebounds in his first game against his former team since signing with the Warriors last summer.

at Philadelphia 106, Miami 102:

Recently acquired former Clippers forward Tobias Harris scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, JJ Redick made a late three-point shot and the 76ers overcame the absence of All-Star center Joel Embiid, who will be sidelined at least a week because of a sore knee. Ben Simmons scored 21 points and another former Clipper, Boban Marjanovic, scored 19, including three free throws in the final 11⁄2 minutes.

Portland 113, at Brooklyn 99:

Jusuf Nurkic had 27 points and 12 rebounds and his new backup, Enes Kanter, had 19 points and nine rebounds in his Trail Blazers debut.

at Cleveland 111, Phoenix 98:

Cedi Osman scored 19 points, Kevin Love had 16 points and 11 rebounds and the Cavaliers sent the Suns to a franchise-record 16th consecutive loss. The Suns, an NBA-worst 11-49, lost 15 in a row last season.

at Lakers 111, Houston 106