(ANSA) – LOS ANGELES, JAN 04 – Giannis Antetokounmpo, author of 55 points (a career best total) led Milwaukee to victory against Washington (123-113), while Boston, leader of the Eastern Conference, received a hard lesson from Oklahoma City (150-117). Author of a 20/33 shooting (plus 10 rebounds and 7 assists), Antetokounmpo scored 19 points in the 4th quarter, necessary to contain Washington’s comeback attempts. In the absence of his lieutenant Khris Middleton, who injured his knee, the double MVP (2019, 2020) found invaluable support in Brook Lopez (21 points, 12 rebounds, 6 blocks). Bobby Portis added 17 points off the bench.
With this success, Milwaukee remains third in the East, but gets closer to Brooklyn which in turn, without playing, closes on the Celtics, beaten without appeal by the Thunder, modest 12/mi in the West and without their best element, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, injured. In his absence, it was Josh Giddey (25 points) who led OKC to set a new team record for points scored in a game since moving from Seattle in the 2008-09 season. Luguentz Dort (23 points), Jalen Williams, Tre Mann and Isaiah Joe (21 points each) also contributed and the Thunder achieved 59.2% shooting success. The Celtics were let down by the defense, offensively Jaylen Brown (29 points) and Jayson Tatum (27 points) did their duty.
In the last match of the evening Sacramento beat Utah (117-115). Final with suspense: after the basket by De’Aaron Fox (37 points) with 0.4 seconds left, Lauri Markkanen (28 points) managed to score from three on the sound of the siren, but the instant replay showed that the ball had left hand after. (HANDLE).
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