Giannis Antetokounmpo erupted for a career-high 64 factors because the Milwaukee Bucks avenged final week’s in-season event exit to the Indiana Pacers with an ill-tempered 140-126 victory Wednesday.
Former NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo was in scintillating type, capturing 20-of-28 from the sphere with 14 rebounds, three assists and 4 steals because the conflict between the 2 highest-scoring groups within the NBA lived as much as its billing.
Milwaukee have been dumped out of the in-season event semi-finals in Las Vegas final week by the Pacers and have been clearly decided to keep away from a repeat of that loss earlier than their house crowd on the Fiserv Forum.
The simmering stress between the groups boiled over within the fourth quarter when Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith wrapped an arm round Antetokounmpo’s neck as he drove for the basket.
Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis flew in to defend his teammate earlier than being dragged away in an unpleasant melee that concerned officers and training workers from each benches.
The acrimony flared once more after the ultimate buzzer, with Antetokounmpo and different Milwaukee gamers racing off the courtroom to confront members of the Pacers workforce.
Antetokounmpo, whose 64 factors marked a franchise file, later re-emerged again onto the courtroom to remonstrate with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stated the post-game fracas was triggered over a misunderstanding concerning the game-ball, snaffled by the Pacers after their Congolese rookie Oscar Tshiebwe scored his first NBA level off the bench.
“We were not thinking about Giannis’s franchise record so we grabbed the ball and a couple of minutes later several of their players ended up in our hallway,” Carlisle stated.
“There was an enormous fracas, melee no matter. I do not suppose any punches landed however our basic supervisor acquired an elbow within the ribs from one in all their gamers.
“Unfortunate scenario. It did not have to escalate to that.
“Third time we’ve played these guys in the past two to three weeks so things are heated and I understand all that. But for it to come into the hallway – it didn’t need to happen that way.”
Wemby rally falls quick
Elsewhere, Anthony Davis scored 37 factors because the Los Angeles Lakers held off a blinding late rally led by French prodigy Victor Wembanyama to edge previous the San Antonio Spurs 122-119.
The Lakers, lacking LeBron James after Tuesday’s defeat in Phoenix, cruising after main for nearly all the recreation and opening up a 20-point benefit early within the fourth quarter at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center.
But a surprising fightback by the house workforce – who erupted for 45 factors within the last quarter – left the Lakers clinging on in the direction of the top of regulation earlier than they finally scraped house.
Number one draft choose Wembanyama, denied his much-hoped-for match-up with James, excelled down the stretch with 14 factors together with two back-to-back 3-pointers and a free throw that helped San Antonio get to inside one level with 22 seconds remaining.
The San Antonio rally fell simply quick nevertheless, with Davis nailing 4 straight free throws to provide the Lakers a five-point cushion within the closing seconds, successfully sealing the sport.
Wembanyama, who arrived within the NBA this season being hailed as a once-in-a-generation expertise, completed with 30 factors, 13 rebounds, three steals and 6 blocks, incomes admiration from Lakers linchpin Davis.
“Obviously there’s a lot of pressure on him, No.1 pick,” stated Davis.
“But he can play. He’s been struggling a little bit but he showed up tonight … he’s one of them ones – a generational talent. It was fun going against him tonight.”
Wembanyama acquired offensive help from Keldon Johnson with 28 factors, whereas Malaki Branham added 19 factors as San Antonio fell to a franchise record-extending 18th straight defeat.
The Lakers improved to 15-10 to stay in fifth place within the Western Conference.
In different video games, reigning MVP Joel Embiid bagged 41 factors in Philadelphia’s 129-111 drubbing of the hapless Detroit Pistons (2-2-22).
In Phoenix, Devin Booker had 34 factors and Kevin Durant 27 however have been unable to stop the Suns from falling 116-112 to the Brooklyn Nets.
Source: www.dailysabah.com