UNDATED (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and Khris Middleton added 27 points to lead defending NBA champion Milwaukee past Indiana 119-109. The Bucks took the lead on Middleton’s four-point play to close the first quarter and never trailed again. The Pacers have lost three of their first four games under new coach Rick Carlisle. The Pacers were led by Malcolm Brogdon with 25 points.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
— Kevin Durant scored 25 points and the Brooklyn Nets bounced back from a poor finish a day earlier with a blistering start that sent them to a 104-90 victory over the Washington Wizards. Patty Mills made five 3-pointers and added 21 points off the bench, while James Harden finished with 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds. The Wizards won their first two games but fell behind early in this one.
— Jayson Tatum scored a season-high 41 points, Jaylen Brown added 30 points including an emphatic dunk in overtime and the Boston Celtics handed the Charlotte Hornets their first loss of the season Monday night 140-129. Dennis Schroder had nine of his 23 points in overtime, and Robert Williams added 12 points and 16 rebounds in a game that featured 28 lead changes. Miles Bridges had 25 points and 10 rebounds and LaMelo Ball added 25 points.
— Jimmy Butler scored 36 points on 15-for-21 shooting and the Miami Heat pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Orlando Magic 107-90 on Monday night. Bam Adebayo added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat. Markieff Morris had 16 points off the Miami bench. Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs led Orlando with 15 points. Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton each added 12 for the Magic. Mo Bamba and Robin Lopez had 11 apiece for Orlando.
— Trae Young had 32 points and nine assists, John Collins scored 22 and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons 122-104 on Monday night. The Hawks have won 24 of their last 30 home games, dating Feb. 21. Like in the 2021 playoffs,. Kelly Olynyk had 17 of his 21 points in the first half and Saddiq Bey scored 21 for Detroit, which dropped to 0-3.
— The Chicago Bulls opened a season with four straight wins for the first time since 1996-97, holding off the Toronto Raptors 111-108. DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points against his former team and Zach LaVine had 22 points for the Bulls. Nikola Vucevic scored 17 points and Lonzo Ball had 15 as the Bulls won their fourth straight meeting with Toronto. OG Anunoby scored 22 points to lead the Raptors, who have lost three of four.
— Kevin Love scored 22 points, Jarrett Allen recorded his second straight double-double and the Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Denver Nuggets 99-87. Allen finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds to help the Cavaliers start a five-game trip on the right note. The Cavaliers overcame a big night from Nikola Jokic. The NBA MVP scored 24 points and grabbed 19 rebounds.
