JRUE Holiday scored 27 points and Brook Lopez added 20 points and 12 rebounds to help the visiting Milwaukee Bucks hold off the Atlanta Hawks 114-105 on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).
Atlanta came back from a 24-point, second-half deficit and took a 103-101 lead on a Bogdan Bogdanovic basket with 3:12 left. But Milwaukee responded with a 10-0 run – including four points from Holiday and a 3-pointer by Lopez – to regain the lead and put it away.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a season-low seven points but added 18 rebounds and 10 assists. Bobby Portis and Jevon Carter each scored 13.
The Bucks have won four of their last five and split their season series with the Hawks at 2-2 in their final regular-season meeting. Milwaukee ended its four-game losing streak at Atlanta.
Atlanta played without leading scorer Trae Young, who was sidelined with a non-COVID illness.
In other games, it was the Nuggets 126, Suns 97; Grizzlies 135, Spurs 129; Celtics 125, Pelicans 114; Pistons 135, Wolves 118; Wizards 100, Bulls 97; Knicks 119, Pacers 113; and Kings 135, Rockets 115.
Nuggets 126, Suns 97
Nikola Jokic had 21 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists, Bones Hyland also scored 21 and host Denver clobbered Phoenix.
Jamal Murray scored 16 points before leaving early in the fourth with a left ankle sprain.
Zeke Nnaji and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 15 each, Aaron Gordon added 12 and Michael Porter Jr. finished with 11 for the Nuggets, who have won 12 straight at home.
Torrey Craig scored 16 points, Josh Okogie had 14, and Dario Saric, Jock Landale and Damion Lee finished with 11 each for Phoenix, which has lost 10 of 12 and was without center Deandre Ayton (ankle) for the second straight game, along with Devin Booker (groin), Chris Paul (hip) and Cameron Payne (foot).
Grizzlies 135, Spurs 129
Ja Morant returned to the lineup with a bang as Memphis beat San Antonio at home for the second time in three days to extend their winning streak to eight.
Morant finished with a game-high 38 points in his return from a right thigh injury. Desmond Bane tallied 18 points, six rebounds and three assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. (21 points, 12 rebounds) and Steven Adams (11 points, 18 rebounds) recorded double doubles. Tyus Jones (16 points), Xavier Tillman (eight points) and Ziaire Williams (nine points) continued their outstanding play for the Grizzlies.
Leading scorer Keldon Johnson (hamstring) returned to San Antonio’s starting lineup and had a team-high 24 points. Tre Jones added 22 points and six assists. Jakob Poeltl (17 points, 12 rebounds) added his ninth double-double of the season. Jeremy Sochan tallied 11 points and five assists. — Field Level Media
