Nigerian-born Giannis Antetokounmpo made an impressive return from injury, scoring 23 points in 24 minutes, as the Milwaukee Bucks secured a 116-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA.
The 30-year-old missed one game due to knee pain and was sidelined for five additional games—including the All-Star Weekend with a strained left calf. Given his recent injury, the two-time NBA MVP was rested for much of the fourth quarter as his minutes were carefully managed.
Milwaukee was without Bobby Portis Jr., who has been handed a 25-game suspension without pay by the NBA after failing a drug test. Brook Lopez contributed 22 points, while Damian Lillard and Taurean Prince added 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Bucks.
- Nikola Jokic delivered a dominant performance with 29 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 assists as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Charlotte Hornets 129-115.
- Jamal Murray led the Nuggets’ scoring with 34 points, helping the reigning champions secure their ninth consecutive victory.
- Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 28 points, while Jayson Tatum recorded a triple-double as the Boston Celtics cruised to a 124-104 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
- The defending champions, Celtics, currently second in the Eastern Conference, secured their seventh road victory this season.
- LeBron James turned back the clock with a 40-point performance, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 110-102 win against the Portland Trail Blazers.
- Austin Reaves added 32 points and 7 assists, helping the Lakers bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Hornets.
