Giannis, Bucks lock down Nuggets for lopsided win
MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 18 rebounds and five assists as the Milwaukee Bucks showcased their improved defense by trouncing the Denver Nuggets 112-95 on Monday night.
After losing five of their first six games under new coach Doc Rivers — including a 113-107 defeat at Denver in his debut with Milwaukee — the Bucks have won two straight by a combined margin of 53 points.
This blowout of the reigning NBA champions followed Milwaukee's most lopsided victory of the season, a 120-84 rout of the Charlotte Hornets. This marks the first time this season the Bucks have allowed fewer than 100 points in back-toback games.
Nikola Jokic had 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Nuggets, but he didn't get nearly enough help on a night when two teammates left with injuries. Aaron Gordon scored 14 and Michael Porter Jr. had 11.
Denver's Jamal Murray scored three points in 18 minutes before sitting out the second half due to shin splints. Kentavious Caldwell-pope played just nine minutes before leaving with tightness in his right hamstring, an issue that had caused him to miss the Nuggets' last two games.
Damian Lillard scored 18 points for the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo's 18 rebounds matched his season high.
Hield scores 24 in 76ers’ victory
Buddy Hield scored 24 points in his third game for Philadelphia, which halted the host Cleveland Cavaliers' nine-game winning streak by hanging on for a 123-121 victory.
The Cavs nearly rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final 1:25. They had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Darius Garland missed a 3-pointer from the right corner.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 24 points and All-star Tyrese Maxey added 22 for the Sixers. Maxey split a pair of free throws with 6.9 seconds left, giving Cleveland a last possession to extend its longest winning streak since it had Lebron James in 2018.
Timberwolves ease by Clippers
Karl-anthony Towns scored 24 points and Anthony Edwards added 23 as visiting Minnesota pulled away in the second half for a 121-100 victory over Los Angeles in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Western Conference. Rudy Gobert had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Timberwolves (37-16) remained atop the Western Conference with their third win in the last four games.
It is the 10th time the Timberwolves have won this season when trailing at halftime, which is second in the NBA.
Doncic, Mavericks outlast Wizards
Luka Doncic had his 10th triple-double of the season and helped rally host Dallas to a 112-104 win over Washington.
Doncic finished with 26 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds. He missed five minutes late in the third quarter and early in the fourth after being knocked to the floor on a charge by Corey Kispert. Doncic was taken to the locker room and received stitches on his chin.
Holiday clinches win for Rockets
Aaron Holiday had 18 points, capped by two free throws with less than a second remaining after a foul by Jalen Brunson behind the 3-point line, to lift Houston to a 105-103 win over the visiting New York Knicks.
Houston had a fourpoint lead with less than a minute to go before Brunson scored the next four points, capped by a jump shot with 8.1 seconds left to tie it at 103.
Precious Achiuwa blocked a short shot by Jalen Green and Holiday grabbed the ball beyond the arc and shot it as Brunson rushed out at him.
Holiday made the first two free throws before missing the third intentionally to run out the clock.