Normally, when your star player puts up at least 40 points in the game, that's a good sign of where your team is at in that contest. That was only the case for one of two stars' teams on Friday night, as Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 44 points in the Milwaukee Bucks' 114-102 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Antetokounmpo's point total tied a career high, as he added 14 rebounds and eight assists, putting together his second-career 40-10 game. The win for the Bucks got their road record back to .500 at 6-6, while improving them to 19-9 on the season. That pulls them within three games of the Toronto Raptors, who fell on the road later in the night against the Portland Trail Blazers.
This big performance for "The Greek Freak" helps him overcome a season-low 12 points that he had on Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers. On this night, he shot 14-of-19 from the floor, and 16-of-21 at the free throw line, helping the Bucks get the win despite playing without Khris Middleton due to a sprained right finger. Milwaukee was also without Malcolm Brogdon due to a sore left hamstring, which makes two of their top three scorers on the bench.
The Bucks never trailed at Quicken Loans Arena, as Antetokounmpo's night was his 20th double-double of the season. Meanwhile, Brook Lopez added 19 points and Eric Bledsoe had 16 against the last-place Cavaliers. Cleveland was led by Jordan Clarkson's 23 points, but rookie Collin Sexton was held to five points after scoring in double figures in 18 straight games. Larry Nance Jr. added 14 for them in their 22nd loss of the season: 11 on the road, and 11 at home.
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid had a typical monster game for him with 40 points, but his Philadelphia 76ers were taken down on their home floor for a second straight game, 113-101, against the Pacers. Embiid shot 13-of-22 from the floor, but his former teammate, Thaddeous Young, led the Pacers with 26 points and 10 rebounds in Indiana's victory. Embiid's night was also overpowered by his team's struggles outside of him, as they turned the ball over 16 times, while also shooting just 25 percent from three-point range.
Bojan Bogdanovic added 18 points for the Pacers, who have now defeated two of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference this week. They defeated the Bucks earlier in the week, and are now 19-10, which has them continuously climbing the Eastern Conference standings. The Sixers had started the season by winning 14 of their 15 home games, but they are now 14-3 at the Wells Fargo Center.
Philadelphia was playing without Jimmy Butler for a second straight game due to strained groin. JJ Redick had 22 points and Ben Simmons finished with 19, but they struggled without their recently-acquired star. The Pacers had their star, Victor Oladipo, back for a second straight game and he finished with 14 points and nine assists. Indiana has now won six games in a row, passing Philadelphia in the standings.
This big performance for "The Greek Freak" helps him overcome a season-low 12 points that he had on Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers. On this night, he shot 14-of-19 from the floor, and 16-of-21 at the free throw line, helping the Bucks get the win despite playing without Khris Middleton due to a sprained right finger. Milwaukee was also without Malcolm Brogdon due to a sore left hamstring, which makes two of their top three scorers on the bench.
The Bucks never trailed at Quicken Loans Arena, as Antetokounmpo's night was his 20th double-double of the season. Meanwhile, Brook Lopez added 19 points and Eric Bledsoe had 16 against the last-place Cavaliers. Cleveland was led by Jordan Clarkson's 23 points, but rookie Collin Sexton was held to five points after scoring in double figures in 18 straight games. Larry Nance Jr. added 14 for them in their 22nd loss of the season: 11 on the road, and 11 at home.
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid had a typical monster game for him with 40 points, but his Philadelphia 76ers were taken down on their home floor for a second straight game, 113-101, against the Pacers. Embiid shot 13-of-22 from the floor, but his former teammate, Thaddeous Young, led the Pacers with 26 points and 10 rebounds in Indiana's victory. Embiid's night was also overpowered by his team's struggles outside of him, as they turned the ball over 16 times, while also shooting just 25 percent from three-point range.
Bojan Bogdanovic added 18 points for the Pacers, who have now defeated two of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference this week. They defeated the Bucks earlier in the week, and are now 19-10, which has them continuously climbing the Eastern Conference standings. The Sixers had started the season by winning 14 of their 15 home games, but they are now 14-3 at the Wells Fargo Center.
Philadelphia was playing without Jimmy Butler for a second straight game due to strained groin. JJ Redick had 22 points and Ben Simmons finished with 19, but they struggled without their recently-acquired star. The Pacers had their star, Victor Oladipo, back for a second straight game and he finished with 14 points and nine assists. Indiana has now won six games in a row, passing Philadelphia in the standings.
