UNDATED (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans owned a 28-point lead in the second half on Friday. The Milwaukee Bucks erased almost all of it before the Pelicans prevailed, 131-126.
The Pelicans appeared firmly in control when Lonzo Ball’s jumper made it 93-65 with 4:35 left in the third quarter. But Khris Middleton’s turnaround jumper began a head-spinning 20-3 run during the next 3:08.
Ball highlighted a season-best 27-point performance with seven 3-pointers. Eric Bledsoe also hit seven 3s and scored 25 for the Pelicans, who combined to make 21 from deep.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 38 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks.
Checking out Friday’s other NBA action:
— The Jazz have run their winning streak to 11 games after Bojan Bogdanovic scored 17 of his season-high 32 points in the third quarter of a 120-101 win over the Mavericks. Mike Conley scored 22 points and Rudy Gobert added 17 with 12 rebounds for his eighth consecutive double-double.
— The Clippers beat the Magic for the 14th straight time since 2013, 116-90 as Paul George had 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Kawhi Leonard added 24 points after he and George each missed two games due to COVID-19 protocols.
— Joel Embiid racked up 37 points and 11 rebounds in just 27 minutes of the 76ers’ 118-94 thumping of the Timberwolves. Tobias Harris added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Sixers as the Eastern Conference leaders pulled away after a five-point halftime lead on the worst team in the Western Conference.
— The Nuggets’ five-game winning streak is over after DeMar DeRozan had 30 points and 10 assists in the Spurs’ 119-109 victory against Denver. Dejounte Murray finished with 26 points and San Antonio held the Nuggets to 23 in the final period en route to its third win in a row.
— With Kevin Durant sitting out, James Harden and Kyrie Irving each scored 25 points to help the Nets roll past the Thunder, 147-125. Harden scored 17 on 6 for 8 shooting while Brooklyn was taking a 76-59 halftime lead.
— P.J. Washington had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Hornets in a 108-105 win over the Pacers. Terry Rozier scored 19 points and Devonte Graham added 14 with 10 assists as Charlotte bounced back from a 116-106 loss to the Indiana two nights earlier.
— Trae Young’s 41 helped the Hawks top the Wizards 116-100, a game that saw Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook and Robin Lopez all get ejected. John Collins added 17 points for Atlanta, which led by as many as 23 and improved to 10-9.
— Rookie guard Immanuel Quickley scored 25 points off the bench in leading the Knicks to a 102-81 win over the Cavaliers. R.J. Barrett scored 24 points, Julius Randle finished with 16 as New York stopped a three-game losing streak.
— Harrison Barnes poured in 26 points and De’Aaron Fox added 24 in the Kings’ third straight win, 126-124 over the Raptors. Buddy Hield had 22 points for Sacramento, and Hassan Whiteside came off the bench with 16 and nine rebounds in his second game back after missing four games with a hip injury.
