Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Damian Lillard poured in 43 points, draining eight of Milwaukee’s 24 three-pointers on Sunday to propel the short-handed Bucks to a 135-127 NBA victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Lillard added eight rebounds and eight assists in a sparkling effort that made up for the absence of former NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed his fourth straight game with a left calf strain. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said before the game that Antetokounmpo, second in the league in scoring with 31.8 points per game, will be out until after the All-Star Game, which he will skip as he recovers.
Antetokounmpo’s absence, Lillard said, meant he had to impose himself on the game. “I think I’ve just got to assert myself more,” Lillard said. “When you’re on the floor with the best player in the league you’ve got to find ways to be effective — I’ve got to make sure that my spacing is right. I’ve got to make sure that I’m taking pressure off him. When he’s not out there, I’ve got to assert myself and play a game that’s very familiar to me.”
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Gary Trent Jr. drilled seven three-pointers on the way to 23 points off the bench for the Bucks, who had dropped six of their last eight. Lillard said the Bucks were determined to turn things around heading into the All-Star break. “Good things happen when you push your mind and energy in the right place and I thought we did that today,” he said.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 39 points and Joel Embiid added 27 points and 12 rebounds, but Philadelphia slumped to a third straight defeat.
In Houston, the Rockets snapped a six-game losing streak with a hard-fought 94-87 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Down by five going into the fourth quarter, Houston dug deep to pull out the victory. Dillon Brooks led the Rockets scoring with 19 points and Jalen Green, celebrating his 23rd birthday, added 18. Center Alperen Sengun, who was doubtful to play due to back spasms, departed in the opening minutes in apparent back pain. Immanuel Quickley led the Raptors with 20 points but was held to two in the fourth quarter as the Rockets seized control, sending the Raptors to a fourth straight defeat.
In Detroit, Cade Cunningham’s triple-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists fueled the Pistons in a 112-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Tobias Harris scored 20 points and Malik Beasley added 17 off the bench for the Pistons, who saw their 28-point lead cut to two midway through the fourth quarter but held on for the wire-to-wire victory. Denis Schroder, acquired by the Pistons days after he was traded from Golden State to Utah in the five-team deal that sent Jimmy Butler to the Warriors, scored three assists in 14:37 minutes off the bench.
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