Nikola Jokic-inspired Denver Nuggets made an announcement Saturday, downing Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks 129-106 in a battle of NBA convention leaders.
In a recreation touted as a possible NBA Finals preview, two-time and reigning NBA MVP Jokic scored 31 factors, handed out 11 assists and pulled down six rebounds, and the Nuggets held East leaders Milwaukee to 40 second-half factors with the sort of dominant defensive show they have been accused of missing this season.
Jamal Murray, who made 5 3-pointers and scored 26 factors for Denver, stated it began on the defensive finish – and never simply in a 3rd quarter by which the Nuggets out-scored the Bucks 34-19.
“I thought we played great defense all game,” Murray stated.
“We had a good start, even though they went on a run I thought we were consistent all game with our defense and we found transition points.”
Antetokounmpo, who received MVP honors for 2 straight years earlier than Jokic, scored 31 factors, however simply seven within the second half.
He was a drive on the rim earlier than the interval, ending with 5 dunks, though the dunk that reverberated by Ball Arena was 36-year-old Nuggets veteran Jeff Green’s slam over Antetokounmpo to open the fourth quarter.
“They just had us in the second half,” stated Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, whose crew was coming off a lopsided victory in Salt Lake City in a tricky high-altitude back-to-back.
The third quarter was pivotal in Miami, the place the Brooklyn Nets out-scored the Heat 39-18 within the interval, on the best way to a 129-100 victory that moved them previous Miami and into sixth place within the East.
Mikal Bridges scored 27 factors, Cam Johnson scored 23 and Spencer Dinwiddie chipped in 15 for Brooklyn, who snapped a five-game shedding streak to not less than briefly put themselves in place for direct entry to the playoffs.
Max Strus scored 23 factors off the bench for Miami however was scoreless within the second half. Tyler Herro scored 23, however the Heat had no reply because the Nets began warming up late within the second quarter.
Down by double digits early, the Nets lower the deficit to 4 at halftime and held Miami to 31 second-half factors.
Categorically outplayed
Their 31-6 scoring run within the third quarter pushed them to a 104-87 lead going into the ultimate interval.
“We took a punch from them early on the road, we didn’t flinch, which was good,” stated Nets coach Jacque Vaughn. “That third quarter was pretty impressive on both ends of the floor.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra stated his crew’s troubles began lengthy earlier than the third quarter.
“We just got categorically outplayed tonight,” Spoelstra concluded.
The Phoenix Suns snapped a three-game skid with a 125-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Devin Booker scored 29 factors for Phoenix, who have been tied halfway by the third quarter.
They pulled away late, withstanding a 37-point efficiency from Tyrese Maxey. Joel Embiid added 28 factors and 10 rebounds for the Sixers, who misplaced for the second time in as many days after falling at Golden State on Friday.
In different video games, Kevin Huerter scored 27 factors to steer the Sacramento Kings in a 121-113 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Domantas Sabonis scored 16 factors and grabbed 15 rebounds for his sixtieth double-double of the season for the Kings.
The New Orleans Pelicans drained 21 3-pointers in a 131-110 victory over the Clippers in Los Angeles
And the Atlanta Hawks maintained their maintain on eighth place within the East with a 143-130 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
The Hawks held on for the victory after guard Trae Young was ejected throughout a timeout within the third quarter after he launched a ball on the referee in frustration at being known as for an offensive foul.
John Collins scored 21 factors to steer eight Hawks gamers in double figures.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
