Antetokounmpo scores 52, but Bucks can’t stop Sixers
Giannis Antetokounmpo won the scoring matchup, but Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers won the game.
Antetokounmpo poured in a careerhigh 52 points, while Embiid had 40 points and 15 rebounds to lead the 76ers over the Milwaukee Bucks 130-125 on Sunday.
Antetokounmpo was 15 of 26 from the field, including 3 of 8 from 3-point range, and made 19 of 21 free throws to better his previous career best by eight points.
The 7-foot, 260-pound Embiid challenged his shots and trips into the paint.
“(Embiid is) a tough guy,” Antetokounmpo said. “He’s a great defender, strong. It was kind of hard going at him.”
At New York, Mario Hezonja blocked Lebron James’ potential winning shot with
2.3 seconds left after New York had erased an 11-point deficit in the final 3½ minutes. James had 33 points and eight assists but had a shot blocked by Deandre Jordan in the final minute and missed a jumper with Los Angeles up by one. Emmanuel Mudiay’s two free throws with 22 seconds left were the final points, and he totaled 28 points and eight assists for the Knicks, who had lost eight in a row.
At Houston, Chris Paul had 25 points and 10 assists for Houston, which made 21 of 50 3-point attempts while preventing Minnesota from sweeping the teams’ three-game season series. James Harden had 20 points and 10 assists for the Rockets despite dealing with a neck strain. Karl-anthony Towns had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who trailed by one at halftime.
At Detroit, Blake Griffin had 25 points and Andre Drummond 15 points and 17 rebounds for Detroit, which capped a three-game season-series sweep of Toronto in its 14th win in 18 games. Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points for the Raptors, who have lost four of seven.
At Miami, reserve Goran Dragic scored 19 points and Dwyane Wade 17 for Miami, which stayed eighth in the East and moved two games up on 10th-place Charlotte. Jeremy Lamb led the Hornets with 21 points in the lowest-scoring NBA game this season.
At Los Angeles, Lou Williams hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the final buzzer for Los Angeles, which led by 10 with 1:02 left. Williams totaled 25 points in the Clippers’ seventh win in eight games. D’angelo Russell led Brooklyn with 32 points.
At Sacramento, Calif., Marvin Bagley III had 21 points and nine rebounds for Sacramento, which dealt Chicago its fifth straight loss and capped its second straight season sweep of the Bulls. The Kings held an 80-56 scoring edge in the paint.
At Orlando, Fla., Nikola Vucevic had 27 points and 20 rebounds for Orlando, which overcame 38.8-percent shooting to remain one game behind Miami for the East’s final playoff berth. Trae Young led Atlanta with 20 points.