LOS ANGELES: Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets made a observation Saturday, downing Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Dollars 129-106 in a fight of NBA convention leaders. In a sport touted as a possible NBA Finals preview, two-time and reigning NBA MVP Jokic scored 31 issues, passed out 11 assists and pulled down six rebounds, and the Nuggets held East leaders Milwaukee to 40 second-half issues with the type of dominant defensive show they’ve been accused of missing this season.
Jamal Murray, who made 5 three-pointers and scored 26 issues for Denver, mentioned it began at the defensive finish – and no longer simply in a 3rd quarter wherein the Nuggets out-scored the Dollars 34-19. “I believed we performed nice protection all sport,” Murray mentioned. “We had a just right get started, despite the fact that they went on a run I believed we have been constant all sport with our protection and we discovered transition issues.” Antetokounmpo, who received MVP honors for 2 directly years sooner than Jokic, scored 31 issues, however simply seven in the second one 1/2.
He was once a pressure on the rim sooner than the period, completing with 5 dunks, even though the dunk that reverberated thru Ball Area was once 36-year-old Nuggets veteran Jeff Inexperienced’s slam over Antetokounmpo to open the fourth quarter. “They only had us in the second one 1/2,” mentioned Dollars trainer Mike Budenholzer, whose crew was once coming off a lopsided victory in Salt Lake Town in a difficult high-altitude back-to-back. The 3rd quarter was once pivotal in Miami, the place the Brooklyn Nets out-scored the Warmth 39-18 within the length, on the best way to a 129-100 victory that moved them previous Miami and into 6th position within the East.
Mikal Bridges scored 27 issues, Cam Johnson scored 23 and Spencer Dinwiddie chipped in 15 for Brooklyn, who snapped a five-game shedding streak to a minimum of briefly put themselves in place for direct access to the playoffs. Max Strus scored 23 issues off the bench for Miami, however was once scoreless in the second one 1/2. Tyler Herro scored 23, however the Warmth had no solution because the Nets began warming up overdue in the second one quarter. Down through double digits early, the Nets lower the deficit to 4 at halftime and held Miami to 31 second-half issues.
Categorically outplayed
Their 31-6 scoring run within the 3rd quarter driven them to a 104-87 lead going into the general length. “We took a punch from them early at the highway, we didn’t draw back, which was once just right,” mentioned Nets trainer Jacque Vaughn. “That 3rd quarter was once lovely spectacular on each ends of the ground.” Warmth trainer Erik Spoelstra mentioned his crew’s troubles began lengthy sooner than the 3rd quarter. “We simply were given categorically outplayed this night,” Spoelstra concluded. The Phoenix Suns snapped a three-game skid with a 125-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Devin Booker scored 29 issues for Phoenix, who have been tied halfway during the 3rd quarter.
They pulled away overdue, withstanding a 37-point efficiency from Tyrese Maxey. Joel Embiid added 28 issues and 10 rebounds for the Sixers, who misplaced for the second one time in as many days after falling at Golden State on Friday. In different video games, Kevin Huerter scored 27 issues to steer the Sacramento Kings in a 121-113 victory over the Utah Jazz. Domantas Sabonis scored 16 issues and grabbed 15 rebounds for his sixtieth double-double of the season for the Kings.
The New Orleans Pelicans tired 21 three-pointers in a 131-110 victory over the Clippers in Los Angeles And the Atlanta Hawks maintained their grasp on 8th position within the East with a 143-130 victory over the Indiana Pacers. The Hawks hung on for the victory after guard Trae Younger was once ejected all over a timeout within the 3rd quarter after he introduced a ball on the referee in frustration at being referred to as for an offensive foul. John Collins scored 21 issues to steer 8 Hawks gamers in double figures.- AFP