NBA roundup: Giannis matches historic numbers in Bucks win, Nets streak finally snaps
Toronto, Canada - Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his second triple-double of the NBA season as the Milwaukee Bucks blew a 21-point second-half lead before rallying for a 104-101 overtime win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
Giannis finished the game with 30 points on seven-of-18 shooting, making 15-of-21 from the free-throw line, along with a season-high 21 rebounds and 10 assists, plus one block.
The dominant display came in the second game of a back-to-back after his 55-point performance against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. The big Greek is the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1972 to drop 200-plus points, 80-plus rebounds, and 30-plus assists over a five-game span.
The Bucks forward drove to the basket and laid off a crucial assist for Grayson Allen's go-ahead triple with 11.6 seconds remaining in OT.
Allen had earlier given up a flagrant 1 foul on a four-point play as Gary Trent Jr shot a three-pointer to make it 97-92 with 29.1 seconds remaining. Trent also nailed a 27-foot three-point jump shot to tie the game at 97-97, sending it to OT.
The Raptors were plagued by poor OT shooting as Giannis set up Allen twice to clinch the game.
Milwaukee had led 90-69 with 3:50 remaining in the fourth quarter, before Toronto's 28-7 run was sparked by Fred VanVleet, who finished with 28 points and 12 assists along with Trent Jr. with 22 points for the game. Scottie Barnes had 19 points for the game, all after three-quarter time.
Brook Lopez had 19 rebounds with nine points for the Bucks, who were missing Jrue Holiday (non-Covid illness) and Khris Middleton (knee).
The result improves the Bucks' record to 25-13 and second in the Eastern Conference, while the Raptors are 12th with a 16-22 record.
Around the league: Nets streak finally snaps, Lakers overcome absences
The Brooklyn Nets' 12-game winning streak was ended by the Chicago Bulls 121-112 despite Kevin Durant's 44 points.
Durant shot 15-of-22 from the field, including five-of-10 from three-point range, but the Bulls had a rounded team effort with all five starters reaching double digits, led by Patrick Williams and DeMar DeRozan, who both scored 22 points with seven rebounds.
Center Nikola Vucevic had 21 points with 13 rebounds, helping the Bulls go on an 8-0 fourth-quarter run when Durant was rested, with Ayo Dosunmu laying down a big dunk for 106-95 with 6:46 left.
Meanwhile, Dennis Schröder led the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers past the Miami Heat 112-109, with 14 of his season-high 32 points coming in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers, without LeBron James (non-Covid illness) and Anthony Davis (foot), were also helped by Russell Westbrook with 21 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds off the bench. Thomas Bryant also scored 21 points.
LA fought back from a six-point fourth-quarter deficit, despite Bam Adebayo's 30 points and 13 rebounds, along with Jimmy Butler contributing 27 points.
Cover photo: Collage: USA TODAY Sports