Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have been feeling right at home. Now they want to maintain that same momentum on the road.
Antetokounmpo on Thursday had 37 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as Milwaukee beat the Orlando Magic 118-114 for their sixth consecutive victory — all at home on the longest homestand of the season.
The Bucks have won 15 straight games at Fiserv Forum, their longest single-season home winning streak since 1991-1992 when they won their first 18 at home.
Photo: AFP
“I think we’re trending upwards,” said Damian Lillard, who had 24 points and eight assists.
“I think defensively we’re still having some miscommunications, maybe some mistakes, but I think we’re defending a lot better than we had been starting the season,” he said. “I think offensively we’re finding ourselves, sort of establishing how we’re going to play and how it works for everybody. It’s still not perfect on either end, but we’re finding a way to win games”
The Bucks open a four-game trip in New York today.
“We were able to enjoy our time at home,” Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously, winning makes you more happy. You’re able to enjoy your time more, practices, too, and the time you spend with your family.”
Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez added 14 points each for Milwaukee.
Franz Wagner scored 29 points for the Magic, who have lost four in a row. Paolo Banchero had 23 points and Moe Wagner 21. Cole Anthony added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
“The Bucks have two big-time players who made big-time plays down the stretch,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Our guys played hard. They played together. They played with poise, all the things we’re asking a team that’s growing and getting better to do.”
Orlando had a 60-40 edge in the paint, but went just eight of 33 on three-point attempts to continue their slump from long range. The Magic were nine of 36 from beyond the arc on Wednesday in a 115-106 home loss to Miami.
After scoring a season-low 11 points while getting a triple-double on Tuesday in a 132-119 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Antetokounmpo had nine points in the first 2 minutes, 30 seconds on Thursday while helping the Bucks build an 11-2 lead.
After trailing 80-65 midway through the third quarter, the Magic cut Milwaukee’s lead to 93-91 on Franz Wagner’s three-pointer with 9:02 left.
Orlando had two possessions with a chance to tie or pull ahead, but failed to score either time. Lopez then scored on a pass from Malik Beasley to start a 9-2 spurt.
The Magic got the margin back down to five with two minutes left, but could not get any closer until Gary Harris hit a three-pointer in the final second.
Orlando were missing Jalen Suggs because of a sprained left wrist and Joe Ingles due to a sprained left ankle.
Elsewhere, the Timberwolves topped the Lakers 118-111, the Wizards edged the Trail Blazers 118-117, the Jazz downed the Pistons 119-111, the Bulls spanked the Spurs 114-95, the Pelicans crushed the Cavaliers 123-104, the Thunder thumped the Clippers 134-115 and the Grizzlies mauled the Pacers 116-103.
Additional reporting by staff writer
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Marcus Rashford’s first goals for Aston Villa on Sunday inspired a 3-0 win against Preston North End that sent his side into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. Rashford struck twice in the second half at Deepdale to end Preston’s stubborn resistance before Jacob Ramsey wrapped up Villa’s long-awaited return to the last four. Villa are to face Crystal Palace — 3-0 winners at Fulham on Saturday — in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium in London. Revitalized since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United during the January transfer window, Rashford is beginning to show the form that
RSS