LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points and Khris Middleton added 23 as the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks improved to 51-17 Tuesday with a 130-113 victory at New Orleans.
The “Greek Freak” was greeted with chants of “M-V-P” by Pelicans supporters, signaling their support of his being named NBA Most Valuable Player for his outstanding season – averaging 27.0 points, 12.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.4 blocked shots and 1.2 steals a game.
“I definitely heard it. It’s amazing. I think it’s the third time it has happened on the road,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s nice that fans from the other team realize how good of a team we are and the work we’ve put in.”
The Bucks have not won a playoff series since 2001 and haven’t won an NBA title since 1971 but are on pace to own the home-field edge throughout the NBA playoffs.
Elfrid Payton had a triple double with 14 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists for the Pelicans, who also got 21 points and 12 rebounds from Anthony Davis.
Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James scored a game-high 36 points and pulled down 10 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a five-game losing streak with a 123-107 victory at Chicago.
Down 60-55 at half-time, the Lakers outscored the Bulls 43-24 in the third quarter and rolled to victory, improving to 31-36 but still 6.5 games behind Utah for the last Western Conference playoff berth.
Cameroonian big man Joel Embiid scored the final six points in the last minute to power the Philadelphia 76ers over visiting Cleveland 106-99.
After a dunk with 51 seconds to play, he blocked a shot, grabbed two rebounds and made four free throws in the dying seconds to lift the Sixers to victory, staying level with Indiana for third in the Eastern Conference at 43-25.
Embiid finished with 17 points, 19 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots while Australia’s Ben Simmons added 26 points, 10 rebounds and eighth assists for the 76ers.
Westbrook fined $25K
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook has been fined $25,000 for his part in an expletive-laden bust-up with a Utah Jazz fan, the NBA said Tuesday.
A brief statement from the league’s vice-president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe confirmed Westbrook’s punishment for the incident on Monday at Utah’s Vivint Smart Home Arena.
The Utah Jazz meanwhile said the fan involved in the incident had been banned for life from the venue.
Westbrook was seen angrily swearing at the fan during the Thunder’s 98-89 win on Monday.
