MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets have lost their lead in the NBA’s Eastern Conference semifinals while losing another All-Star in the process.
The Bucks have evened the series at two games apiece with a 107-96 win over the Nets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 34 points and Khris Middleton had 19 for the Bucks, who managed just 86 in each of the previous two games.
The Nets scored 13 straight points to take a 34-23 lead, but Milwaukee responded with a 19-4 spurt.
Brooklyn finished the game without Kyrie Irving because of a sprained right ankle suffered in the second quarter. The injury left the Nets without their starting guards.
Kevin Durant had 28 points and 13 rebounds for the Nets, who host Game 5 on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Suns roared into the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 11 years.
Phoenix completed a four-game sweep with a 125-118 win over the Nuggets in Denver. The Suns’ starting guards carried the offense again, with Chris Paul delivering 37 points and seven assists. Devin Booker added 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
Denver center Nikola Jokic was tossed with 3:52 left in the third quarter and the Nuggets trailing, 83-76. His hard right-hand windmill swipe sent the basketball flying but also caught Cameron Payne in the face, leaving the Nuggets without their reigning NBA Most Valuable Player.
Will Barton was high man for the Nuggets with 25 points, while Jokic added 22 points and 11 rebounds in 28 minutes.
