First modification: 14/05/2021 – 04:42
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Los Angeles (AFP)
With an exhibition of 40 points and 15 rebounds, the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo drove the victory of the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday against the Indiana Pacers with whom they stalk the lead of the Philadelphia 76ers, who fell to the Miami Heat.
Antetokounmpo, MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the last two NBA seasons, has reached the final week of the regular season in a fearsome way, trying to get his Bucks, third in the Eastern conference, ahead of the Sixers (1st) or the Brooklyn Nets (2nd).
The Greek star had 40 points with a spectacular 14/18 (77.7%) shooting from the field, including 1 triple, and added 15 rebounds and 6 assists.
The power forward is the first player to combine at least 40 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in a game with a 75% effectiveness since Charles Barkley achieved it in 1988.
Alongside Antetokounmpo, guard Khris Middleton added 22 points and 6 assists and guard Jrue Holiday another 20 and 14.
For the Pacers, classified to the ‘play in’ (playoff repechage), the Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis remained in 10 points and 14 rebounds and had to retire with 26 minutes played due to discomfort in his left knee.
Justin Holiday, Jrue Holiday’s older brother, was Indiana’s leading scorer with 26 points and 5 triples.
This victory left the Bucks 1.5 wins behind the Nets and 2 behind the Sixers, who had a chance to seal their first place in the East but fell 106-94 on their visit to Miami.
Embiid, the Philadelphia star and MVP candidate, was shipwrecked again against the Heat defense and had his worst game of the season with just 6 points (3/9) and 2 rebounds.
Last season’s finalists against the champions Los Angeles Lakers, the Heat have improved their performance in the final stretch of the regular season and are trying to snatch fourth place in the East from the Atlanta Hawks, who are 0.5 wins away. and this Thursday they comfortably beat the Orlando Magic 116-93.
“I think we’re ready for the playoffs,” Heat star Jimmy Butler said. “Fourth place would be something but I honestly like our chances against anyone.”
Butler, recovered from the injuries that have affected him this season, added 21 points with 5 triples and 5 rebounds while center Bam Adebayo stayed close to the triple double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists.
– Jokic supera a Towns, Kings eliminados –
The Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-103 on a night when they gave Michael Porter Jr. a break.
The favorite for the MVP award, Serbian Nikola Jokic, prevailed with 31 points and 14 rebounds in the center duel with Minnesota star Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 20 and 11.
Argentine guard Facundo Campazzo, meanwhile, stayed at 6 points (2/8) with 3 rebounds and 9 assists in 33 minutes on the court.
The Nuggets remain in fourth place in the West, one game behind the Los Angeles Clippers, who clearly beat the Charlotte Hornets 113-90 on Thursday.
Rookie guard Anthony Edwards was, with 29 points, the leading scorer for the Timberwolves, who remain in the second-to-last position in the West.
For their part, the Sacramento Kings fell 116-110 to the Memphis Grizzlies and ran out of options to qualify for the playoff playoffs.
Results of Thursday’s day in the NBA:
Charlotte Hornets – LA Clippers 90-113
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 133-142
Atlanta Hawks – Orlando Magic 116-93
Miami Heat – Philadelphia 76ers 106-94
New York Knicks – San Antonio Spurs 102-98
Chicago Bulls – Toronto Raptors 114-102
Memphis Grizzlies – Sacramento Kings 116-110
Minnesota Timberwolves – Denver Nuggets 103-114
In Game:
Phoenix Suns – Portland Trail Blazers
© 2021 AFP
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