Nikola Jokic scored 26 points without missing a single shot against the Phoenix Suns and Giannis Antetokounmpo destroyed the Brooklyn Nets with 29 points on Saturday’s NBA day. Among the other protagonists of the day, Pascal Siakam knocked down the Chicago Bulls at the buzzer to give air to his Indiana Pacers.
In Phoenix, the Nuggets overcame the Suns 112-130 with 26 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists from Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP connected on all seven of his field goal attempts (100% accuracy) and made 10 of his 11 free throws. He was supported by Jamal Murray, who contributed 24 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr., with 23 and seven three-pointers off the bench. The Nuggets are 14-5 and fourth in the West
In the East, the Detroit Pistons lead the table after a 138-135 win in Miami. Cade Cunningham connected 14 of his 29 shots for 29 points and Tobias Harris scored 10 of 12, with four three-pointers, for a total of 26 points. In addition, Duncan Robinson contributed 18 points and Paul Reed achieved a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench
The Heat surrendered despite 31 points from Andrew Wiggins, 28 from Norman Powell and 24 from Tyler Herro, who hit six three-pointers.
Giannis eases Bucks’ worries and Warriors win without Curry
At the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo rescued a Bucks team in crisis, who were coming off seven consecutive defeats. The Greek sealed 29 points and eight rebounds in the comfortable 116-99 win over Jordi Fernandez’s Brooklyn Nets. His 29 points also saw him break the 21,000-point barrier in his NBA career.
Among the other results, the Toronto Raptors lost in overtime at the Charlotte Hornets and snapped their nine-game winning streak.
The Golden State Warriors overcame the absence of Stephen Curry and defeated the New Orleans Pelicans with 24 points from Jimmy Butler, in the return of Jonathan Kuminga after seven games out with a knee problem.
Highest scoring number one overall pick
The Dallas Mavericks came from behind to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 114-110, led by a rampant Cooper Flagg with 35 points (a career high) and eight rebounds, well supported by a decisive Klay Thompson in the fourth quarter: 23 total points, 17 of them in the final period and six three-pointers, including the shot that put Dallas ahead for good with less than two minutes to go.
In the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard (30 points, eight rebounds) and James Harden (29 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds) held the team together, but did not prevent the fourth consecutive loss and the seventh in a row at the Intuit Dome
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