Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from harm with a vengeance on Monday, scoring 46 factors to steer the Milwaukee Bucks to a come-from-behind 133-124 victory over the in-form Sacramento Kings.
A tense duel in Sacramento ended with tempers flaring because the Bucks’ Brook Lopez and Sacramento’s Trey Lyles clashed angrily within the closing seconds, sparking a mass melee and the ejection of each gamers.
Antetokounmpo completed with 12 rebounds and 4 assists along with his 46 factors because the Bucks discovered their scoring contact within the third and fourth quarters to pile up 80 second-half factors.
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo had missed the Bucks’ final three video games, together with Saturday’s defeat to the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco.
But his return to the line-up couldn’t have been extra well timed in opposition to a Sacramento workforce who’ve emerged because the shock package deal of the Western Conference, the place they sit in third place behind Denver and Memphis.
Antetokounmpo was backed by 31 factors from Khris Middleton and 23 factors from Lopez because the Bucks overturned a 15-point deficit to say victory.
De’Aaron Fox led Sacramento’s scoring with 35 factors from 13-of-23 taking pictures.
The win cemented Milwaukee’s grip on high spot within the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks improved to 49-19 and have opened up a 2.5 recreation lead over second-placed Boston, surprisingly overwhelmed by lowly Houston earlier on Monday.
In different video games on Monday, Klay Thompson flirted with breaking his single-game three-point taking pictures report as Golden State claimed one other heavyweight scalp with a 123-112 win over the Phoenix Suns on the Chase Center.
Thompson completed with 38 factors, 33 of them scored in a outstanding first half that included eight three-pointers.
Thompson’s contact abandoned him in a scoreless third quarter nevertheless, that means he was unable to problem his report of 14 threes in a recreation set in 2018.
“There’s gonna be lulls — I want I may rating 33 factors each half however I’m way more glad with the win,” Thompson said.
Steph Curry finished with 23 points and Jordan Poole 20 for the Warriors, who improved to 36-33 and are fifth in the Western Conference standings.
Celtics stunned by Rockets
The upset of the day came in Houston, where the Rockets stunned Boston 111-109 despite a 43-point performance from Celtics ace Jaylen Brown.
The second-placed Celtics had been looking to close the gap on Milwaukee against a Houston team who are propping up the Western Conference with the league’s worst record.
But the Celtics were caught cold by a fired-up Houston, who shared the scoring around in a tight contest that saw 15 lead changes.
Jalen Green led the Rockets scoring with 28 points while five Houston players finished in double figures.
Boston may have compelled extra time however Jayson Tatum missed a driving layup within the last seconds as Houston held on for the win.
“You’ve got to take the shots you have when you’re open,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “Offensive rebounds, second probability factors, turnovers -– that’s the sport.”
In other games, Jimmy Butler guided Miami to victory down the stretch in the Heat’s 119-115 win over the Utah Jazz.
“Jimmy’s energy, relentlessness and aggressiveness in these kind of minutes is super-unique,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned.
Butler completed with 24 factors as seven Miami gamers completed in double figures.
Tyler Herro and Gabe Vincent completed with 18 factors apiece whereas Bam Adebayo added 16 factors and Kevin Love 11. Victor Oladipo and Caleb Martin mixed for 21 off the bench.
Lauri Markkanen led Utah’s scoring with 38 factors however Miami confirmed the higher composure at key factors in a recreation the place the lead modified fingers 17 instances.
Miami, who improved to 37-33, are seventh within the East, one spot exterior the automated postseason playoff spots with 12 video games left.
“We simply should proceed to grind and work out the best way to win another skirmishes,” Spoelstra said.
“At this point, with 12 games left, it’s just however we need to do it, we just have to do it.”
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