Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 32 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 133-86 home blowout of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. It was the Bucks’ third win of 40 or more points, tying the NBA record for most such games in a season. The margin narrowly missed being the largest in the NBA this season. The Los Angeles Clippers beat Atlanta by 49 earlier this season. The Bucks, who won their fifth straight game coming out of the All-Star break, hit 21 3-pointers, their most of the season.
Both Wesley Matthews and Pat Connaughton hit four from behind the arc. They each finished with 14 points, as did Bucks teammate George Hill. Oklahoma City was without second-leading scorer Danilo Gallinari, who hasn’t played in the second night of a back-to-back since November. Chris Paul scored 18 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 11 for the Thunder, who had a five-game winning streak snapped.
Los Angeles Clippers 132 – Denver Nuggets 103 Paul George scored a game-high 24 points, and Los Angeles hammered visiting Denver. George, who struggled offensively in the previous two games with 11 and seven points, connected on 6 of 8 3-pointers and 9 of 15 overall from the floor, as the Clippers won their third straight game. Kawhi Leonard contributed 19 points, Montrezl Harrell had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Lou Williams finished with 17 points for Los Angeles, which had seven players score in double figures.
Williams hit 5 of 7 shots from behind the arc. New Orleans Pelicans 116 – Cleveland Cavaliers 104 Rookie Zion Williamson scored 24 points for his 10th consecutive game with at least 20, and host New Orleans routed Cleveland for its third win in four games since the All-Star break. Brandon Ingram scored 29, Jrue Holiday added 22 and E’Twaun Moore and Nicolo Melli had 10 each for the Pelicans, who were playing their first home game in 15 days and started a three-game homestand over five days.
Collin Sexton tied his career-high with 31 points to lead the Cavaliers, who are just 17-42 but entered the game with a 3-1 record under coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who took over when John Beilein resigned during the All-Star break. Miami Heat 126 – Dallas Mavericks 118 Jimmy Butler scored 26 points, and Duncan Robinson added 24 to lead host Miami past Dallas and run its home record HOW TO MAKE SLIME 24-4. Dallas guard Seth Curry had a career-high 37 points.
The younger brother of Warriors star Stephen Curry, he made 13 of 15 attempts from the floor, including 8 of 9 on 3-pointers, with the eight makes marking a career high. Miami got 16 points each from Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn, and Heat center Bam Adebayo had 14 points and 11 rebounds for his 35th double-double of the season. Kristaps Porzingis had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Dallas. Orlando Magic 136 – Minnesota Timberwolves 125 Terrence Ross scored 19 of his season-high 33 points in the fourth quarter as host Orlando handed Minnesota its 19th loss in 21 games.