Bucks deliver against Magic

Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 20 rebounds and the host Milwaukee Bucks held off the Orlando Magic, 117-108, Saturday night to open a two-game set.

The teams will meet again Monday night in Milwaukee.

Bobby Portis had a season24 points along with 15 rebounds to help the Bucks win their third in a row and improve to 9-8. They’re above .500 for the first time since they were 32 on Oct. 27.

R.J. Hampton had 19 points off the bench for the Magic. Jalen Suggs added 14, and Chuma Okeke had 13. Orlando lost for the fifth time in six games to fall to an East-worst 4-13.

Orlando played without leading scorer Cole Anthony, who sat out after spraining his right ankle in a Friday night game against the Nets in Brooklyn. The second-year player is averaging 19.6 points.

The Bucks appeared to pull away for good early in the third when Antetokounmpo and Portis connected on back-to-back 3s.

The Bucks led by as many as 29 and held a 9671 margin heading to the fourth.

More games

Timberwolves 138, Grizzlies 95: D’Angelo Russell scored 28 points and Anthony Edwards added 23 as host Minnesota ( 7- 9) cruised to its third win in a row by beating Memphis (88).

Celtics 111 ,Thunder 105: Jayson Tatum scored 33 points and Dennis Schroder had 29 as host Boston (9-8) beat Oklahoma City (6-10).

Knicks 106, Rockets 99: Alec Burks scored 17 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and Evan Fournier added 19 as host New York handed Houston its 14th consecutive loss.

Pacers 111, Pelicans 94: Domantas Sabonis had 20 points and 10 rebounds and host Indiana (7-11) starters bounced back from being benched a night earlier to beat New Orleans (315).

Wizards 103, Heat 100: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Spencer Dinwiddie each scored 16 points as host Washington (11-5) rallied for a victory against Miami (116).

Hawks 115, Hornets 105: Clint Capela had 20 points and 15 rebounds and Trae Young scored 19 points as host Atlanta (8-9) beat Charlotte (10-8).