Bucks Enjoy Strong Start, Defeat Hawks
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 120-109, at State Farm Arena on Thursday evening.
The Bucks (35-20) now sit 15 games over the .500 threshold and remain one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, something they proved Thursday with a solid win over a Hawks (30-26) that was coming off seven wins over their previous 10 contests before this loss. Milwaukee quickly got on top and secured a 33-29 lead in the first quarter, but they pulled away for good after winning the second quarter by a 31-23 score -- this means the Bucks held a commanding 12-point lead (64-52) by halftime. The Hawks improved defensively in the second half and held the Bucks to just 30 points in the third quarter (30-30), but it seemed Atlanta wouldn't have enough time to mount a comeback despite winning the fourth quarter (30-29) and that's exactly what happened. Milwaukee cruised to a solid win on the road and now they've gone 17-12 when playing away from home this season, while Atlanta has gone 14-11 at home.
Jrue Holiday led the Bucks with 23 points and seven assists while also notching four rebounds, while Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered 15 points, five boards, three steals, two assists and a block across 25 minutes. Brook Lopez had a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Khris Middleton stuffed the stat sheet after posting 10 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and a steal. Pat Connaughton had 14 points off the bench, while Jeff Teague and Bobby Portis each had 11 points.
Bogdan Bogdanovic registered 28 points to lead the Hawks and also added seven assists with six rebounds, while Trae Young had 15 points with nine assists. Clint Capela had another double-double since he finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds, while Salomon Hill delivered 18 points and five boards. Kevin Huerter had 16 points.
The Bucks (35-20) now sit 15 games over the .500 threshold and remain one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, something they proved Thursday with a solid win over a Hawks (30-26) that was coming off seven wins over their previous 10 contests before this loss. Milwaukee quickly got on top and secured a 33-29 lead in the first quarter, but they pulled away for good after winning the second quarter by a 31-23 score -- this means the Bucks held a commanding 12-point lead (64-52) by halftime. The Hawks improved defensively in the second half and held the Bucks to just 30 points in the third quarter (30-30), but it seemed Atlanta wouldn't have enough time to mount a comeback despite winning the fourth quarter (30-29) and that's exactly what happened. Milwaukee cruised to a solid win on the road and now they've gone 17-12 when playing away from home this season, while Atlanta has gone 14-11 at home.
Jrue Holiday led the Bucks with 23 points and seven assists while also notching four rebounds, while Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered 15 points, five boards, three steals, two assists and a block across 25 minutes. Brook Lopez had a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Khris Middleton stuffed the stat sheet after posting 10 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and a steal. Pat Connaughton had 14 points off the bench, while Jeff Teague and Bobby Portis each had 11 points.
Bogdan Bogdanovic registered 28 points to lead the Hawks and also added seven assists with six rebounds, while Trae Young had 15 points with nine assists. Clint Capela had another double-double since he finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds, while Salomon Hill delivered 18 points and five boards. Kevin Huerter had 16 points.
Warriors Topple Cavaliers, 119-101
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 119-101, at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Thursday night.
The Warriors (28-28) and Cavaliers (20-35) came into the interconference matchup off wins, and each squad performed well in the first quarter. Cleveland came out of that opening period with a three-point lead, but Golden State eliminated their narrow deficit and forged an 11-point advantage going into halftime. The visitors still held a 10-point edge going into the final period and essentially cruised to a win while adding another eight points to their edge in the fourth quarter.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 33 points, adding five assists, four rebounds and two blocks. Andrew Wiggins supplied 23 points, six rebounds and six assists. Juan Toscano-Anderson furnished 20 points, seven boards, three assists, one steal and one block. Jordan Poole registered 14 points, four assists and three steals. Damion Lee supplied 11 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Kevon Looney finished with eight points, 10 rebounds and two assists.
Collin Sexton paced the Cavaliers with 30 points, four rebounds and two assists. Darius Garland delivered 20 points, seven assists, four rebounds and one steal. Jarrett Allen generated a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included one assist and two steals. Taurean Prince managed 12 points, two rebounds, one assist and two steals.
The Warriors remain on the road and next visit the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, while the Cavaliers hit the road and visit the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
The Warriors (28-28) and Cavaliers (20-35) came into the interconference matchup off wins, and each squad performed well in the first quarter. Cleveland came out of that opening period with a three-point lead, but Golden State eliminated their narrow deficit and forged an 11-point advantage going into halftime. The visitors still held a 10-point edge going into the final period and essentially cruised to a win while adding another eight points to their edge in the fourth quarter.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 33 points, adding five assists, four rebounds and two blocks. Andrew Wiggins supplied 23 points, six rebounds and six assists. Juan Toscano-Anderson furnished 20 points, seven boards, three assists, one steal and one block. Jordan Poole registered 14 points, four assists and three steals. Damion Lee supplied 11 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Kevon Looney finished with eight points, 10 rebounds and two assists.
Collin Sexton paced the Cavaliers with 30 points, four rebounds and two assists. Darius Garland delivered 20 points, seven assists, four rebounds and one steal. Jarrett Allen generated a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included one assist and two steals. Taurean Prince managed 12 points, two rebounds, one assist and two steals.
The Warriors remain on the road and next visit the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, while the Cavaliers hit the road and visit the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
Celtics Close Out Fifth Straight Win
By Dan Bruno
The Boston Celtics defeated the host Los Angeles Lakers, 121-113, at Staples Center on Thursday evening.
The Celtics got out to a good start with an early, 21-7, lead, before the Lakers cut it back to an eight-point game heading into the second. The Celtics held the upper hand through the second and pushed their lead to 13 points by halftime. Both teams came out strong in the third and the Lakers managed to trim one point off the deficit, making it a 12-point game heading into the final frame. The Lakers kept up the fight in the fourth and cut it down to a five-point game with 1:18 left on the clock. However, the Celtics came up clutch to close out a fifth straight win.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 40 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a steal, in 32 minutes. Marcus Smart added 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal, while Tristan Thompson totaled 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and a block. The Celtics shot 56 percent from the field, including 14-of-32 from long range.
Meanwhile, Talen Horton-Tucker led the Lakers with 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals, in 27 minutes. Marc Gasol totaled 18 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Ben McLemore chipped in 17 points, three rebounds and two assists. The Lakers shot 44 percent from the field, including 12-of-37 from deep.
The Lakers (34-22) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Jazz on Saturday. The Celtics (30-26) play host to the Warriors on Saturday.
The Celtics got out to a good start with an early, 21-7, lead, before the Lakers cut it back to an eight-point game heading into the second. The Celtics held the upper hand through the second and pushed their lead to 13 points by halftime. Both teams came out strong in the third and the Lakers managed to trim one point off the deficit, making it a 12-point game heading into the final frame. The Lakers kept up the fight in the fourth and cut it down to a five-point game with 1:18 left on the clock. However, the Celtics came up clutch to close out a fifth straight win.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 40 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a steal, in 32 minutes. Marcus Smart added 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal, while Tristan Thompson totaled 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and a block. The Celtics shot 56 percent from the field, including 14-of-32 from long range.
Meanwhile, Talen Horton-Tucker led the Lakers with 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals, in 27 minutes. Marc Gasol totaled 18 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Ben McLemore chipped in 17 points, three rebounds and two assists. The Lakers shot 44 percent from the field, including 12-of-37 from deep.
The Lakers (34-22) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Jazz on Saturday. The Celtics (30-26) play host to the Warriors on Saturday.
Suns Defeat Kings, 122-114
The Phoenix Suns defeated the visiting Sacramento Kings, 122-114, at Phoenix Suns Arena on Thursday.
Phoenix led for all but a few minutes in this game, despite never leading by more than 12 points. That can be attributed to a 33-28 first quarter and a 27-20 fourth quarter. The Suns ended up out-rebounding the Kings, 39-32, while out-assisting them, 30-22. Both teams shot 55 percent from the field in this shootout. With that said, Phoenix shot 86 percent from the free-throw line while Sacramento shot 74 percent. In addition, the Suns outscored the Kings in the paint, 52-44.
The Kings (22-34) were led by De'Aaron Fox and his 27 points, three rebounds and eight assists. Buddy Hield amassed 24 points, four rebounds and two assists. Harrison Barnes accrued 14 points, two rebounds and three assists. Delon Wright led the bench with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists while Hassan Whiteside had 11 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.
The Suns (40-15) were led by Deandre Ayton, who amassed 26 points and 11 rebounds on 10-of-11 from the field. Devin Booker tallied 23 points, three rebounds and four assists. Chris Paul generated 13 points, three rebounds, 11 assists and three steals. Jevon Carter led the bench with 13 points, three rebounds and two assists.
On deck for Phoenix is another home game against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. As for Sacramento, they return to action on Sunday when they travel to face the Dallas Mavericks.
Phoenix led for all but a few minutes in this game, despite never leading by more than 12 points. That can be attributed to a 33-28 first quarter and a 27-20 fourth quarter. The Suns ended up out-rebounding the Kings, 39-32, while out-assisting them, 30-22. Both teams shot 55 percent from the field in this shootout. With that said, Phoenix shot 86 percent from the free-throw line while Sacramento shot 74 percent. In addition, the Suns outscored the Kings in the paint, 52-44.
The Kings (22-34) were led by De'Aaron Fox and his 27 points, three rebounds and eight assists. Buddy Hield amassed 24 points, four rebounds and two assists. Harrison Barnes accrued 14 points, two rebounds and three assists. Delon Wright led the bench with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists while Hassan Whiteside had 11 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.
The Suns (40-15) were led by Deandre Ayton, who amassed 26 points and 11 rebounds on 10-of-11 from the field. Devin Booker tallied 23 points, three rebounds and four assists. Chris Paul generated 13 points, three rebounds, 11 assists and three steals. Jevon Carter led the bench with 13 points, three rebounds and two assists.
On deck for Phoenix is another home game against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. As for Sacramento, they return to action on Sunday when they travel to face the Dallas Mavericks.