By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
On a mission to lock down the Eastern Conference’s second playoff seed, the Milwaukee Bucks rallied beyond the Philadelphia 76ers and got back into the win column Thursday night. They prevailed, 114-105, at Fiserv Forum.
Giannis Antetokounmpo overcame left hamstring soreness en route to 32 points behind 9/12 field goals and 14/18 free throws. Collecting 11 rebounds shaped his 51st triple-double of the 2023-24 campaign. Lasting 37 minutes, he had seven assists and one steal. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not play, but Italian Danilo Gallinari had a rebound and an assist in five minutes.
“We have players who can express themselves throughout the match. We need players to express themselves, no matter the outcome of the match or the circumstances. If we’re standing, be loud. If we’re down, be loud. The voice is very very very very important”, the Greek Freak highlighted communication as key, “I think it was really good tonight.”
For the 76ers, Frenchman Nicolas Batum finished with five points, three assists and two rebounds.
Vucevic has 19 points in losing effort
At the United Center, the Los Angeles Clippers earned a victory, 126-111, over the Chicago Bulls. Croatian Ivica Zubac recorded six points, eight rebounds and two assists. Providing more help inside the paint, Germany’s Daniel Theis added four points, three assists and two rebounds. Frenchman Moussa Diabaté was on a mission in the G League with Ontario Clippers.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic producing 19 points, six rebounds and five assists was not enough for the hosts in the middle of a sprint to clinch a place in the Play-Ins. His Turkish teammate Onuralp Bitim recorded two points and two assists.
Rockets defeat Avdija and Coulibaly
Advancing in the NBA regular season without Turkey’s Alperen Sengun (sprained right ankle/contusion to right knee), the Houston Rockets defeated the Wizards of Washington, 135-119, at the Toyota Center. Serbian Boban Marjanovic did not come off the bench in a comfortable victory for the team coached by Ime Udoka.
On the losing side, Israeli Deni Avdija had 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. Co-holder, Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly collected ten points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
More European screenings
Boston Celtics – Phoenix Suns 127-112 (Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk DNP, Kristaps Porzingis INJ, Neemias Queta GL – Jusuf Nurkic 8pts, 20reb, 6ast, 1stl, 1blk)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Dallas Mavericks 126-119 (Maxi Kleber 3pts, 2reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk, Luka Doncic INJ – Ousmane Dieng GL, Olivier Sarr GL)
Portland Trail Blazers – New York Knicks 93-105 (Toumani Camara 7pts, 4ast, 3stl, Rayan Rupert DNP – OG Anunoby 12pts, 9reb, 2ast, 2stl, Isaiah Hartenstein 9pts, 9reb, 2ast, Bojan Bogdanovic 5pts, 1ast)
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. q-Boston Celtics 52-14
2. Milwaukee Bucks 43-24
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 42-24
4. New York Knicks 39-27
5. Magic of Orlando 38-28
6. Indiana Pacers 37-30
7. Philadelphia 76ers 36-30
8. Miami heat 35-30
9. Chicago Bulls 32-35
ten. Atlanta Falcons 29-36
11. Brooklyn nets 26-40
12. Toronto Raptors 23-43
13. Charlotte Frelons 17-49
14. Detroit Pistons 12-53
15. e-Wizards of Washington 11-55
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 46-20
2. Denver Nuggets 46-20
3. Minnesota Timberwolves 45-21
4. Los Angeles Clippers 42-23
5. New Orleans Pelicans 39-26
6. Kings of Sacramento 38-27
7. Phoenix Suns 38-28
8. Dallas Mavericks 38-29
9. the Los Angeles Lakers 36-31
ten. Warriors of the Golden State 34-31
11. Houston Rockets 31-35
12. Utah Jazz 28-37
13. Memphis Grizzlies 23-44
14. Portland Trail Blazers 19-47
15. e-San Antonio Spurs 14-52
q-qualified for the Playoffs
e-eliminated from the Playoffs
-Teams ranked first through sixth advance directly to the playoffs
-Teams ranked seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
