Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from injury to score 21 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 115-108 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player had been sidelined for two games with a hamstring issue. Damian Lillard was instrumental for the Bucks, scoring 30 points and making two crucial steals in the final quarter to thwart a late Nets comeback.
Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers praised Lillard’s defensive efforts, describing him as “phenomenal” throughout the game. The pivotal moment came with less than five minutes remaining, when Lillard stole the ball from Cam Thomas and initiated a fast break, culminating in an Antetokounmpo three-pointer. Another steal by Lillard led to a three-pointer by Malik Beasley, sealing the win for the Bucks.
The victory keeps the Bucks in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 45-25 record, trailing the Boston Celtics by 10 wins. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets moved level with the Oklahoma City Thunder at the top of the Western Conference with a 113-100 win over the New York Knicks. Michael Porter Jr. led the scoring with 31 points, while Nikola Jokic recorded his 22nd triple-double of the season with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.
In other games, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Utah Jazz 113-97 behind Luka Doncic’s 34 points, extending their winning streak to three games. The Jazz, on the other hand, suffered their fourth consecutive loss despite Lauri Markkanen’s 21 points and Collin Sexton’s 20 points off the bench.
The Houston Rockets continued their winning streak, which now stands at seven games, with a 127-117 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks led the way for the Rockets, while Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 35 points for the Bulls.
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