'NBA Recap: Giannis Antetokounmpo ignites Bucks upon comeback'
Giannis Antetokounmpo made his return to the court after a six-game absence and scored 23 points in 24 minutes as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 116-110 on Thursday.
Brook Lopez led the Bucks with 22 points, while Damian Lillard and Taurean Prince contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively. Milwaukee outscored the Clippers by 15 points in the fourth quarter. Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. also had solid performances with 13 points each. However, the Bucks were without forward Bobby Portis, who was suspended for 25 games by the NBA for violating the league's anti-drug policy.
After missing one game due to right knee pain, Antetokounmpo had also missed the past five games and All-Star weekend with a strained left calf. Against the Clippers, he was on a minutes restriction and rested for most of the fourth quarter. Despite this, he still managed to grab a team-high eight rebounds.
Also see this picks:
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers Pick & Prediction APRIL 3rd 2025
Also see this picks:
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Toronto Raptors Pick & Prediction APRIL 3rd 2025
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 25 points, while James Harden added 24 points. Ivica Zubac had a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 15 points off the bench.
In other games:
Nuggets 129, Hornets 115
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets to their ninth straight win with 29 points, 17 rebounds, and nine assists. Jamal Murray also had a strong performance with 34 points. Aaron Gordon, Julian Strawther, and Christian Braun also contributed with 18, 16, and 10 points, respectively. Michael Porter Jr. struggled with his shot but still managed to pull down 11 rebounds for the unbeaten Nuggets in February.
Miles Bridges had a season-high 36 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets, while Josh Green and Nick Smith Jr. added 19 and 16 points, respectively. However, it wasn't enough to secure a win against the Nuggets.
Magic 114, Hawks 108
Paolo Banchero led the Magic to a comeback victory over the Hawks with 36 points. Franz Wagner also had a strong performance with 25 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Wendell Carter Jr., a Georgia native, had a season-high 15 rebounds for Orlando.
Also see this picks:
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Brooklyn Nets Pick & Prediction APRIL 3rd 2025
Also see this picks:
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers Pick & Prediction APRIL 3rd 2025
Trae Young scored 38 points for the Hawks, his 16th game with 30-plus points this season. Caris LeVert also had a solid performance with 13 points, while Zaccharie Risacher had a career-high 12 rebounds.
Cavaliers 110, Nets 97
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers to a win over the Nets with 26 points. Evan Mobley had a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Darius Garland contributed 18 points and nine assists. Former Nets center Jarrett Allen also had a strong performance with 16 points and a season-high 20 rebounds.
Cameron Johnson scored 18 points for the Nets, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Keon Johnson and Trendon Watford also had solid performances with 16 and 13 points, respectively.
Knicks 113, Bulls 111 (OT)
Miles McBride's go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime helped the Knicks defeat the Bulls. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 32 points and 18 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges had double-doubles with 22 points and 12 assists, and 13 points and 10 rebounds, respectively.
Josh Giddey had a double-double for the Bulls with 27 points and 16 rebounds, while Nikola Vucevic added 21 points and nine rebounds.
Pacers 127, Grizzlies 113
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers to victory with 22 points and nine assists. Myles Turner also had a strong performance with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and seven blocks. Desmond Bane scored 23 points for the Grizzlies, while Ja Morant had a quiet night with 12 points and six assists.
Celtics 124, 76ers 104
Payton Pritchard scored 28 points off the bench and Jayson Tatum recorded a triple-double as the Celtics defeated the 76ers. Pritchard made eight of the team's
