By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo made sure the Milwaukee Bucks would keep their hot streak alive against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The “Greek Freak” was two assists short of a triple-double and with 44 points and 14 rebounds he led the Bucks to a 131-116 victory on the road, to win their fourth straight game and the regular-season series against the Lakers.
Bobby Portis added 23 points for the Bucks, Khris Middleton had 21 and Jrue Holiday picked up a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists as the Bucks cruised to the win.
LeBron James paced the efforts of the hosts with 27 points, Anthony Davis added 22 points and 9 rebounds and Malik Monk tapped 20 points.
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets overcame the New York Knicks at home 132-115, to win their second consecutive game and sweep the regular-season series. Jokic was among the key contributors for the Nuggets with 21 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, while it was Bones Hyland who scored a team-high 22 points for the Nuggets. Will Barton followed with 20 points and Aaron Gordon picked up 19.
Julius Randle scored a game-high 28 points for the Knicks, while Evan Fournier added 21 points and 7 rebounds. The Knicks have now lost their fourth straight game.
Luka Doncic was just three rebounds short of his third consecutive triple-double and with 33 points and 11 assists he lifted the Dallas Mavericks to a 116-86 triumph over the Detroit Pistons at home.
Jalen Brunson added 21 points for the Mavs and Trey Burke had 18 points while coming from the bench to lead their team to its third straight win.
Hamidou Diallo tapped 18 points for Pistons, who slipped further down the standings with their fifth consecutive defeat.
Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks swept the Indiana Pacers 133-112 in the latter’s first game after star Domantas Sabonis’ trade. Young led the way for the Hawks with 34 points, while Bogdan Bogdanovic was among the top contributors with 13 points, Danilo Gallinari tapped 9 points and Clint Capela went off with 6 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals for the Hawks.
Chris Duarte had 25 points and Lance Stephenson added 24 for the Pacers, which have suffered their fourth consecutive defeat.
Brandon Ingram picked up 26 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and 8 rebounds and the New Orleans Pelicans got the job done with a 110-97 win against the Houston Rockets at home.
Alperen Sengun dropped 11 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists as a starter for the Rockets, while Kevin Porter Jr. led the way with 27 points overall.
Cole Anthony tapped 23 points and the Orlando Magic prevailed over the Trail Blazers 113-95, shortly after a trade that ended guard CJ McCollum’s nearly nine-year stint in Portland. Wendell Carter Jr. added 18 for the Magic, which bounced back from a two-game skid.
Anfernee Simons paced the Trail Blazers with 19 points, Jusuf Nurkic followed with 14 points and 11 rebounds and Ben McLemore ad 13 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 25-point performance to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to their fifth consecutive win after downing the Sacramento Kings 134-114 on the road.
DeAaron Fox posted 29 points for the hosts and Harrison Barnes added 21 points, and the Kings have now lost three of their last five games.
Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart combined for 44 points (22 each) and Jayson Tatum added 19 points as the Boston Celtics won their sixth straight game, beating shortstaffed Brooklyn Nets 126-91.
The Nets were without stars Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, while Jevon Carter stepped up from the bench with 21 points for Brooklyn.
NBA February 8 results:
Philadelphia 76ers – Phoenix Suns 109-114
Atlanta Hawks – Indiana Pacers 133-112
Brooklyn Nets – Boston Celtics 91-126
Memphis Grizzlies – LA Clippers 135-109
New Orleans Pelicans – Houston Rockets 110-97
Dallas Mavericks – Detroit Pistons 116-86
Denver Nuggets – New York Knicks 132-115
Los Angeles Lakers – Milwaukee Bucks 116-131
Portland Trail Blazers – Orlando Magic 95-113
Sacramento Kings – Minnesota Timberwolves 114-134
NBA Standings:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 20 | .636 | — | 22-12 | 10-2 | 18-6 | 17-14 | 0-3 | 6-4 | W 3 | |
|
2 Milwaukee Bucks |
35 | 21 | .625 | 0.5 | 21-16 | 7-3 | 19-9 | 16-12 | 0-2 | 8-2 | W 4 |
| 33 | 21 | .611 | 1.5 | 22-13 | 7-3 | 19-8 | 14-13 | 0-1 | 5-5 | L 2 | |
| 33 | 21 | .611 | 1.5 | 19-11 | 6-3 | 17-9 | 16-12 | 0-0 | 7-3 | W 2 | |
| 32 | 22 | .593 | 2.5 | 18-13 | 4-6 | 14-12 | 18-10 | 2-1 | 6-4 | L 1 | |
| 29 | 23 | .558 | 4.5 | 21-14 | 5-5 | 16-12 | 13-11 | 2-1 | 8-2 | W 6 | |
|
7 Boston Celtics |
31 | 25 | .554 | 4.5 | 22-14 | 6-6 | 18-10 | 13-15 | 4-2 | 8-2 | W 6 |
|
8 Brooklyn Nets |
29 | 25 | .537 | 5.5 | 20-10 | 6-2 | 12-14 | 17-11 | 2-0 | 1-9 | L 9 |
| 28 | 27 | .509 | 7 | 18-16 | 5-6 | 14-11 | 14-16 | 0-4 | 3-7 | L 5 | |
|
10 Atlanta Hawks |
26 | 28 | .481 | 8.5 | 15-17 | 6-5 | 16-12 | 10-16 | 0-0 | 7-3 | W 1 |
| 24 | 29 | .453 | 10 | 17-18 | 6-6 | 13-14 | 11-15 | 3-0 | 2-8 | L 2 | |
|
12 New York Knicks |
24 | 31 | .436 | 11 | 14-21 | 4-6 | 13-15 | 11-16 | 1-1 | 2-8 | L 4 |
|
13 Indiana Pacers |
19 | 37 | .339 | 16.5 | 8-27 | 2-9 | 13-15 | 6-22 | 3-3 | 2-8 | L 4 |
|
14 Orlando Magic |
13 | 43 | .232 | 22.5 | 8-30 | 2-10 | 5-20 | 8-23 | 0-1 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
15 Detroit Pistons |
12 | 42 | .222 | 22.5 | 8-21 | 3-7 | 8-18 | 4-24 | 1-1 | 1-9 | L 5 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 10 | .815 | — | 26-7 | 5-4 | 22-5 | 22-5 | 1-0 | 9-1 | W 3 | |
| 41 | 13 | .759 | 3 | 24-8 | 8-1 | 25-4 | 16-9 | 0-2 | 9-1 | W 9 | |
| 38 | 18 | .679 | 7 | 27-11 | 5-4 | 20-9 | 18-9 | 2-1 | 7-3 | W 3 | |
| 33 | 21 | .611 | 11 | 20-11 | 11-1 | 18-10 | 15-11 | 0-0 | 4-6 | W 3 | |
|
5 Dallas Mavericks |
32 | 23 | .582 | 12.5 | 22-13 | 10-2 | 19-10 | 13-13 | 1-2 | 6-4 | W 3 |
|
6 Denver Nuggets |
30 | 24 | .556 | 14 | 17-17 | 4-8 | 15-10 | 15-14 | 2-0 | 7-3 | W 2 |
|
7 Minnesota Timberwolves |
29 | 25 | .537 | 15 | 20-17 | 7-4 | 16-10 | 13-15 | 1-1 | 7-3 | W 5 |
|
8 LA Clippers |
27 | 29 | .482 | 18 | 14-21 | 4-5 | 16-13 | 11-16 | 0-2 | 5-5 | L 2 |
|
9 Los Angeles Lakers |
26 | 29 | .473 | 18.5 | 14-17 | 2-7 | 17-13 | 9-16 | 6-1 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
10 New Orleans Pelicans |
22 | 32 | .407 | 22 | 14-17 | 4-4 | 12-13 | 10-19 | 1-1 | 6-4 | W 4 |
|
11 Portland Trail Blazers |
21 | 34 | .382 | 23.5 | 9-24 | 1-8 | 14-16 | 7-18 | 0-1 | 2-8 | L 6 |
| 20 | 34 | .370 | 24 | 12-20 | 3-6 | 11-18 | 9-16 | 0-3 | 4-6 | W 1 | |
|
13 Sacramento Kings |
20 | 36 | .357 | 25 | 14-22 | 5-7 | 14-17 | 6-19 | 1-0 | 2-8 | L 1 |
| 17 | 36 | .321 | 26.5 | 13-23 | 3-5 | 9-17 | 8-19 | 1-1 | 3-7 | L 2 | |
|
15 Houston Rockets |
15 | 39 | .278 | 29 | 7-25 | 2-8 | 8-17 | 7-22 | 1-0 | 3-7 | L 3 |
Photo credit: Getty Images