NBA Roundup: Bucks Survive Scare, Finally Solve Hawks

Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) reacts with guard Jrue Holiday (21) against the Atlanta Hawks in the second half at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Jan. 11, 2023. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports via Field Level Media

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.

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.

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.

Celtics 125, Pelicans 114

Jaylen Brown produced game highs with 41 points and 12 rebounds to help Boston stretch its winning streak to four games by beating visiting New Orleans.

Brown made 15 of his 21 field-goal attempts and eight of nine free throws. Jayson Tatum added 31 points and 10 rebounds for Boston. It was the 13th consecutive game that Tatum has scored at least 25 points. Malcolm Brogdon came off the bench to score 20 for the Celtics, who have won their last six home games.

CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with 38 points. He shot 6 for 12 from 3-point range. Naji Marshall (18), Trey Murphy (15) and Jonas Valanciunas (13) also scored in double figures for New Orleans.

Pistons 135, Timberwolves 118

Saddiq Bey poured in a season-high 31 points and host Detroit snapped Minnesota’s four-game winning streak with a victory.

Bojan Bogdanovic supplied 27 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Killian Hayes had 18 points and nine assists. Jaden Ivey contributed 18 points and eight assists and Hamidou Diallo also scored 18 points. Alec Burks added 15 points and five assists as the Pistons swept the two-game season series.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 20 points and six assists. D'Angelo Russell tossed in 19 points with five assists, while Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 14 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels chipped in with 11 points.

Wizards 100, Bulls 97

Kyle Kuzma scored 21 points, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 6.2 seconds remaining, as short-handed Washington rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to beat visiting Chicago.

Anthony Gill scored a career-high 18 points and Monte Morris added 17 for Washington, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Rui Hachimura chipped in 10 points and Deni Avdija finished with nine points and a career-high 20 rebounds.

Chicago lost its second straight despite the efforts of Zach LaVine, who scored 38 points. Nikola Vucevic had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Coby White scored 13.

Knicks 119, Pacers 113

Jalen Brunson scored 34 points and RJ Barrett added 27 in his return from injury, lifting host New York to a victory over Indiana.

Brunson made 11 of 20 shots from the floor and all nine of his attempts from the foul line while Barrett joined Quentin Grimes in sinking four 3-pointers and added eight rebounds after sitting out six games due to a finger injury. Grimes finished with 18 points and Julius Randle collected 14 points and 16 rebounds. Immanuel Quickley scored 11 points off the bench for the Knicks, who have won five of their last six games overall.

Indiana’s Buddy Hield drained seven 3-pointers to highlight his 31-point performance. Rookie Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 points off the bench and Tyrese Haliburton added 15 before exiting with a sore knee for the Pacers, who played without Myles Turner (back spasms).

Kings 135, Rockets 115

Domantas Sabonis came within one assist of his fourth triple-double, Trey Lyles saved 12 of his 20 points for a late surge and Sacramento held off visiting Houston.

Sabonis finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, the third time this season he’s missed a triple-double by either one rebound or one assist. The double-double was his league-leading 31st.

Fox chipped in with 24 points and Lyles 20 off the bench for the Kings, who won for just the second time in four games on a homestand that ends Friday. Fox also found time for a team-high-tying nine assists.