Giannis Antetokounmpo pushes Bucks to second straight win

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Zeke Nnaji #22 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half of a game at Fiserv Forum on January 25, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net

It could’ve been a battle between the last two NBA MVPs but one of them had to sit the game out.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was there in his second straight appearance after missing five games but Nikola Jokic didn’t play in a back-to-back night and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Denver Nuggets 107 – 99 at home.

Giannis scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. He went to the line a lot in the second half where he took 21 out of his 22 free throws, making 15 overall.

“Just tried to get to the rim, tried to be aggressive as much as I can, get downhill, play within my strength,” Antetokounmpo commented. “I tried to enjoy the game. I feel I sometimes get too locked in. I think I’ve got to enjoy the game more. Usually, when I enjoy the game more, I get to the free-throw line more, I get downhill more, I’m able to find my teammates more and just make better plays.”

Jokic (hamstring tightness) wasn’t the only absence for the Nuggets that were also missing Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavius Caldwell-Pope. The Bucks were without Bobby Portis.

Alperen Sengun registered his second triple-double in the NBA but couldn’t combine it with a win. Despite the Turkish center’s 21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, the Houston Rockets fell to the Washington Wizards 103 – 108 at home.

Deni Avdija contributed 10 points plus 10 rebounds to the Wizards’ win.

After a bit of a slump, it seems that Rudy Gobert had returned to double-double mode for good. The Minnesota Timberwolves downed the New Orleans Pelicans 111 – 102 with the French big man producing 17 points and 12 rebounds against Jonas Valanciunas.

Valanciunas had 12 points plus 10 rebounds in the Pelicans’ sixth straight loss. New Orleans saw Brandon Ingram returning to action but once again struggled without Zion Williamson, being now 3-9 without their major star.

Second straight victory for the Orlando Magic courtesy of Paolo Banchero. The ROY favorite scored 23 points in a second straight game as his team beat the Indiana Pacers 126 – 120. Franz Wagner provided a helping hand of 13 points and a team-high seven assists.

Lauri Markkanen had 24 points but the Utah Jazz needed a lot more than that to match the ferocity of Damian Lillard and his 60 points that led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 134 – 124 win.

If the 60-point piece wasn’t enough, Lillard added eight assists and seven rebounds in one of the top performances in his career. He his 21-29 from the field, including 9-15 triples.

Jusuf Nurkic had 10 points for the Blazers.

The rest of Wednesday’s (25/1) NBA Results and notable Euro performers:

Philadelphia 76ers – Brooklyn Nets 137 – 133
Oklahoma City Thunder – Atlanta Hawks 132 – 137 (Bogdan Bogdanovic 20 points, Clint Capela 18 points/10 rebounds)
Golden State Warriors – Memphis Grizzlies 122 – 120
Sacramento Kings – Toronto Raptors 95 – 113 (Domantas Sabonis nine points/eight rebounds)
Los Angeles Lakers – San Antonio Spurs 113 – 104 (Dennis Schroder nine points/eight rebounds/five assists/four steals)

2022-23 STANDINGS

EAST

TEAM W L LAST 10
BOSTON 35 14
8-2
PHILADELPHIA 31 16
8-2
MILWAUKEE 31 17
6-4
BROOKLYN 29 18
4-6
CLEVELAND 29 20
4-6
MIAMI 27 22
7-3
NEW YORK 26 23
5-5
ATLANTA 25 24
7-3
INDIANA 24 26
2-8
10 CHICAGO 22 25
6-4
11 WASHINGTON 22 26
5-5
12 TORONTO 22 27
6-4
13 ORLANDO 19 29
5-5
14 CHARLOTTE 13 36
3-7
15 DETROIT 12 37
2-8

WEST

TEAM W L LAST 10
DENVER 34 15
8-2
MEMPHIS 31 17
6-4
3 SACRAMENTO 27 20
7-3
NEW ORLEANS 26 23
2-8
5 LA CLIPPERS 26 24
5-5
6 DALLAS 25 24
3-7
7 PHOENIX 25 24
5-5
8 GOLDEN STATE  24 24
4-6
9 MINNESOTA 25 25
6-4
10 UTAH 25 26
5-5
11 OKLAHOMA CITY 23 25
7-3
12 PORTLAND 23 25
4-6
13 LA LAKERS 23 26
5-5
14 SAN ANTONIO 14 34
2-8
15 HOUSTON 11 37
1-9
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