UNDATED (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo made his return to the Milwaukee Bucks lineup and promptly led an important win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Antetokounmpo poured in 49 points on 21 of 36 shooting as the Bucks knocked off the Nets, 117-114. The two-time reigning MVP scored the Bucks’ first 16 points of the third quarter.
Antetokounmpo also had eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks to help Milwaukee overcome Kevin Durant’s 42 points and 10 boards.
Kris Middleton had 16 points and 11 boards in the Bucks’ third win in four games. Durant lifted the Nets with 13 points in the quarter, including three 3-pointers. However, Durant missed a difficult fadeaway 3-point try at the buzzer.
The Nets’ loss also allowed the 76ers to take over the top seed in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of Brooklyn.
Ben Simmons tipped in the game-winner off a miss by Joel Embiid as time expired in overtime, giving Philadelphia a 113-111 triumph over the Spurs in San Antonio. Embiid had 34 points and 12 rebounds for the Sixers, who blew a 17-point lead before earning their fourth straight win.
Seth Curry scored 22 points and Dwight Howard added 14 as Philadelphia handed the Spurs their third straight loss.
Checking out Sunday’s other NBA action:
— The Suns have regained a share of the Western Conference lead, catching up with the Jazz by getting past the Thunder, 123-120. Devin Booker scored 32 points and Phoenix shot 54% in improving to 46-18. Former Thunder guard Chris Paul had 18 points and 11 assists, and Torrey Craig added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns.
— Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam had double-doubles in the Raptors’ 121-114 downing of the Lakers. Lowry had 37 points and 11 assists, while Siakam furnished 39 and 13 rebounds. LeBron James had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists before going back to the locker room with 6:42 to play in his second game since missing 20 because of a sprained right ankle.
— The Knicks made it 11 wins in their last 12 games as Julius Randle scored 31 points in just three quarters of a 122-97 pounding of the Rockets in Houston. Randle had 15 points in the third period and finished with seven rebounds and six assists against the league’s worst team. Derrick Rose provided 24 points off the bench, while RJ Barrett chipped in 21 with seven rebounds and five assists.
— The Heat have sole possession of sixth place in the East after Bam Adebayo contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 120-110 decision over the Hornets. Jimmy Butler added 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as Miami took a step toward avoiding the play-in round. Kendrick Nunn added 19 points and Goran Dragic had 18 for the Heat, who’ve won four of their last five.
— CJ McCollum scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Trail Blazers to a 129-119 win at Boston and a 4-0 start to their six-game road trip. Damian Lillard had 26 points and 13 assists for Portland, which dropped the Celtics down to seventh in the East. Carmelo Anthony finished with 13 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:08 remaining after Boston pulled within a basket.
— The Kings completed a season sweep of Dallas as Buddy Hield scored 27 points and Marvin Bagley III had 23 with nine rebounds in Sacramento’s 111-99 victory. Bagley returned to the starting lineup in his second game back after missing 23 with a broken left hand. Luka Doncic scored 30 points before getting ejected in the final minute after his second technical foul.
