Khris Middleton found a not-so-new way to pick up easy assist after easy assist — just lob the ball toward the rim.
From there, high-soaring Giannis Antetokounmpo did the rest.
Middleton had 29 points and a career-high 12 assists, Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and the Milwaukee Bucks won their fifth straight game by beating the Denver Nuggets 125-112 on Monday night.
Photo: AP
“He’s a threat out there,” Antetokounmpo said of Middleton’s passing and scoring ability. “He’s going to find you.”
Usually a forward, Middleton had the ball in his hands even more often with point guard Jrue Holiday out due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols. The Bucks found out earlier in the day that Holiday would not be available.
They adjusted on the fly.
Photo: AFP
“You always have to be prepared and thinking about what you can do if somebody’s not able to go,” Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Just proud of the guys.”
Middleton’s 12th assist was a thing of beauty — a pinpoint pass to Antetokounmpo for a dunk with one minute, 39 seconds remaining to give the Bucks a 120-110 lead. He had a similar play earlier in the fourth.
“I’m just looking at his route,” Middleton said. “Once I see him go to the rim, I just throw it high.”
Bryn Forbes had 15 points for the Bucks, who earned a rare win in the Mile High City. Milwaukee improved to 10-40 all-time at Denver.
Nikola Jokic finished with 35 points and 12 rebounds in a showdown with Antetokounmpo. Jokic could not quite replicate his shooting touch from the other night when he scored a career-high 50 points against the Sacramento Kings.
Will Barton added a season-high 24 points as the Nuggets dropped their third straight.
“We still find ourselves trying to figure out how to be a team that plays a lot better in the second half,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We’ve lost three in a row because we haven’t defended anybody.”
In other games on Monday, it was:
‧ Lakers 119, Thunder 112
‧ Hornets 119, Rockets 94
‧ Raptors 128, Grizzlies 113
‧ Spurs 105, Warriors 100
‧ Mavericks 127, Timberwolves 122
‧Wizards 105, Bulls 101
‧Suns 119, Cavaliers 113
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
RSS