For the champions it was the fourth win in a row and the third against another top team from the best basketball league in the world. The Bucks had already won against the Miami Heat on Wednesday and the Chicago Bulls on Friday and also caught up a deficit in each case.
With his season best of 44 points, Khris Middleton was the most successful thrower on the field at 132:122 and also clearly overshadowed Giannis Antetokounmpo with his 19 points. It was the first time the Suns had played in Milwaukee since losing the final series for the title last season. However, the Suns continued to be without their stars Chris Paul and Devin Booker. Paul has a broken thumb, Booker is on the league’s corona list. The Bucks climbed to third place in the Eastern Conference with the win and are fast becoming a contender for a title defense.
Boston Celtics win over the Nets
The Boston Celtics had previously won their home game against the Brooklyn Nets and proved their recent strong form again. Jayson Tatum had an outstanding evening with 54 points and set a personal best of the season. It’s fun the way we play. Everyone helps, we’re happy,” said the 24-year-old on US television after the 126:120 win against Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s team. Durant had 37 points in his second game from injury, while Irving had 19.
Like Tatum and Middleton, Nikola Jokic had a strong evening. Last season’s MVP made a triple double for the Denver Nuggets at 138-130 after overtime against the New Orleans Pelicans. From a total of 46 points, twelve rebounds and four assists, the Serb recorded 30 points after the third quarter alone. LeBron James last managed a combination of a triple double with at least 40 points and four blocks in the NBA – twelve years ago.
The Memphis Grizzlies surprisingly lost 112:123 to the Houston Rockets, who for the third time had to do without national team player Dennis Schröder, who had an ankle injury. Kristaps Porzingis led his new team to a 133-123 win over the Indiana Pacers in his first game for the Washington Wizards, keeping hopes alive of qualifying for the playoffs.
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