UNDATED (AP) — More than a few basketball experts would like to anoint the Brooklyn Nets the prohibitive favorite to win the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks showed on Friday that the Nets won’t have an easy ride to the Finals.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton led the defending champs to their first win in three games, a 121-109 decision over the Nets in Brooklyn.
Antetokounmpo provided 31 points after missing Milwaukee’s previous game with a non-COVID-related illness. He also had nine assists and seven rebounds, while Middleton scored 15 of his 20 in the third quarter to help the Bucks take a 24-point lead in the period.
Milwaukee won without coach Mike Budenholzer and Jrue Holiday due to health and safety protocols.
Kevin Durant had 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Nets, who have lost five straight home games.
Checking out Friday’s other NBA action:
— It’s now a nine-game winning streak for the Bulls after Zach LaVine pumped in 27 points and Coby White added 21 in a 130-122 shootout over the Wizards. Lonzo Ball scored 18 points, hitting six of Chicago’s 15 3-pointers. Rookie Ayo Dosunmu also had 18 points, and coach Billy Donovan earned his 300th NBA win.
— Cleveland came away with a 114-101 win at Portland as Darius Garland had 26 points and Rajon Rondo scored 11 off the bench in his Cavaliers debut. It was the Cavaliers’ 22nd win, matching their total for all of last season when they finished 13th in the Eastern Conference. Rookie Evan Mobley added 18 points for Cleveland in the team’s first victory in Portland since January 2013.
— Dallas overcame the absence of Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis and coach Jason Kidd to beat Houston, 130-106. Doncic has a sprained right ankle, Porzingis missed his fourth straight game in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and Kidd who entered the health and safety protocols Friday. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 19 points and seven assists
— Fred Van Vleet’s first career triple-double carried the Raptors to a comeback 122-108 win over the Jazz. Van Vleet delivered 37 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Raptors, who trailed by 17 before earning their fifth straight win. He’s scored at least 30 in five of his last seven games. Eric Paschall had a career-high 29 points for the Jazz, who were without eight key players due to injury or COVID protocols.
— The 76ers ran their winning streak to six games as Joel Embiid furnished 31 points and 12 rebounds in a 119-100 win over the short-handed Spurs. Seth Curry and Tobias Harris each added 23 points for the Sixers. Dejounte Murray scored 27 points for San Antonio, which was without six players due to health and safety protocols.
— Nikola Jokic carried the Nuggets to a 121-111 win over the Kings, finishing with 33 points and 10 rebounds. Denver forwards Jeff Green and Zeke Nnaji were activated off the COVID-19 list while Aaron Gordon and Bones Hyland played after being sent home from Thursday’s film session due to non-COVID-19 illnesses. Green had 18 points, Hyland 13 and Gordon 10.
— The Lakers have their first four-game winning streak of the season after LeBron James and Malik Monk led a 134-118 victory against the Hawks. LeBron James scored 23 of his 32 points in the second half, Malik Monk added a season-high 29 points. Avery Bradley and Talen Horton-Tucker scored 21 points apiece for the Lakers, who have won five of six overall while remaining perfect on a five-game homestand that ends Sunday.
— The Timberwolves hammered the Thunder, 135-105 behind D’Angelo Russell’s 27 points and 12 assists. Russell made 11 of 12 field goals and 4 of 5 3-pointers to help Minnesota earn its third straight win and beat the Thunder for second tine in three nights. Anthony Edwards scored 24 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points for the Timberwolves.
