Giannis gets 28 in win vs. N.Y.
Teams will meet again Monday
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points,7 assists and 7 rebounds, Bobby Portis added 23 points and 11 boards, and the visiting Milwaukee Bucks beat the New York Knicks 130-111 on Saturday, opening a twogame series with their seventh consecutive victory.
Khris Middleton scored 20 points for the Bucks, who beat the Knicks for the ninth consecutive time and will try to do it again Monday in front of a national TV audience as the leadoff game to the NBA’s Christmas schedule.
That doesn’t give the Knicks much time to find answers in what’s been a onesided matchup, though they were a little more competitive than when the Bucks blew them out 146-122 on Dec. 5 in the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament.
The Bucks started fast and led most of the way. They blew it open early in the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run that turned an 11-point lead into a 114-92 cushion on Portis’ 3-pointer with 6:29 left.
Jalen Brunson scored 36 points in another good game against Milwaukee, having poured in 45 in a Nov. 3 loss.
Other games
Celtics 145, Clippers 108: Jayson Tatum scored 30 points to lead Boston to its seventh win in eight games. The Celtics never trailed after the early minutes and took control with a 40-point second quarter. Jaylen Brown added 24 points and Jrue Holiday 20 for Boston.
Nuggets 102, Hornets 95: Michael Porter Jr. scored 22 points, Nikola Jokic had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists and Denver held Charlotte to two field goals in the third quarter.
Magic 117, Pacers 110: Southeast-leading Orlando got 34 points from Paolo Banchero to dispatch Indiana. Tyrese Haliburton scored 29 with 14 assists for Indiana.
Rockets 106, Pelicans 104: Alperen Sengun’s dunk with 8.1 seconds left, lifted Houston against New Orleans. Sengun finished with 37 points and 11 rebounds.
Grizzlies 125, Hawks 119: Desmond Bane’s 37 points helped Memphis offset a 30point, 13-assist performance by Atlanta’s Trae Young.
Nets 126, Pistons 115: Brooklyn dealt Detroit its 26th consecutive defeat, tying the NBA record for a losing streak in a single season. Mikal Bridges scored 29 points to led the Nets. The Pistons’ streak matches the mark set by Cleveland in 2010-11 and tied by Philadelphia in 2013-14.
Jazz 126, Raptors 119: Utah rallied from a 16-point deficit in the third quarter to edge Toronto. Lauri Markkanen scored 30 points and grabbed 9 rebounds for the Jazz.
Cavaliers 109, Bulls 95: Max Strus scored 26 points and Jarrett Allen pulled down 17 rebounds to lead Cleveland.
Lakers 129, Thunder 120: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points for Oklahoma City, but was overshadowed by LeBron James, who racked up 40 points for Los Angeles, which ended a four-game losing streak.
Mavericks 144, Spurs 119: Playing without Victor Wembanyama, who sprained his right ankle in pregame warmups, San Antonio was routed by Dallas. Luke Doncic had a tripledouble — 39 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists — for the Mavericks.
Warriors 126, Trail Blazers 106:
Klay Thompson scored 28 points and Stephen Curry added 27 as Golden State ran its winning streak to five games and pulled out of last place in the Pacific Division. Anfernee Simons’ 25 points led Portland.