Lakers sweat on injured superstar Davis; Simmons’ spectacular one-handed play — NBA Wrap
Another day, one other shut loss for the valiant Brooklyn Nets in opposition to a highly-fancied opponent.
It will not be a lot solace for coach Jacque Vaughn after the same effort ended with the Nets developing quick in a 124-114 loss to Boston on Sunday.
But regardless of having Nic Claxton sidelined and this being a younger crew nonetheless forming its identification, Brooklyn pushed Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Milwaukee Bucks all the best way in a 129-125 loss.
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Curry buzzer beater kills Thunder | 00:43
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 36 factors, 12 rebounds, two blocks and a steal whereas Lillard had 21 to go along with six rebounds, even assists and one steal.
Ben Simmons was a machine on the boards, ending the sport with 15 rebounds and capping his evening off with a spotlight putback dunk after a Mikal Bridges miss.
Meanwhile, the Nets had been additionally discovering success utilizing Simmons as a screener close to the 3-point line, with Bridges draining one from deep earlier within the sport after what Sarah Kustok described as an “excellent” display screen from the three-time All-Star.
In saying that, once more Simmons was at occasions hesitant as a scorer because the Australian tried simply three pictures, making one for 2 factors.
That didn’t matter a lot ultimately although as a result of this evening belonged to Cam Thomas because the 22-year-old continued his spectacular begin to the 2022-23 season with a team-high 45 factors.
Thomas, who has had no issues making robust mid-range fade-aways and floaters, this time additionally flashed his potential from deep as he made six 3-pointers within the loss.
The Bucks went on a 10-1 run to shut the hole at 90-89 and will have gone forward when MarJon Beauchamp had an open lane in transition for the dunk, solely to be known as up for a journey.
The Nets answered proper again by a Royce O’Neal 3-pointer in a five-point swing, just for Milwaukee to cost again and lead 108-99 at one level as Giannis Antetokounmpo began to take over.
That is when Thomas actually began to warmth up once more although, scoring seven factors within the house of two minutes because the Nets took a 111-108 lead.
It appeared like each groups can be combating it out till the ultimate buzzer and that ended up being the case, with the Bucks main 128-125 heading into the final 30 seconds.
It solely made sense to get the ball in Thomas’ fingers and he was fast to drive in direction of the rim however couldn’t get the end, which means Brooklyn had no alternative however to play the foul sport.
Milwaukee made sufficient of its free throws too, ending 129-125 winners.
LAKERS SWEAT ON DAVIS AFTER INJURY
Elsewhere, the Lakers will probably be sweating on the well being of star large man Anthony Davis after he skilled hip spasms late within the second quarter of their 108-107 loss to the Miami Heat.
Davis acquired remedy at halftime and re-entered the sport for the third however was clearly hampered by the difficulty as Miami outscored the Lakers 28-20.
The Heat out-hustled the Lakers in that interval with 5 offensive rebounds and 9 second-chance factors, with Jimmy Butler scoring 11 factors to go along with one help, two steals and a rebound.
The Lakers rallied early within the fourth quarter, with LeBron James and Austin Reaves scoring or aiding on all 9 factors as they lowered the Heat’s buffer to 94-88.
A James and-1 later put the Lakers one shot away from the lead, solely trailing 108-107 with simply over two minutes left on the clock.
From there although each groups went chilly, with neither crew making a single discipline objective within the the rest of the sport because the Heat held on for a tense 108-107 win.
Davis didn’t play any minutes within the fourth quarter and coach Darvin Ham was unable to offer an replace after the sport exterior of telling Spectrum SportsNet that the Lakers large man was “in good spirits”.
“We’ll let our medical team do what they need to do and have an answer at a later time,” he added.
KNICKS SPOIL HARDEN’S HYPED CLIPPERS DEBUT
Elsewhere, new Clippers recruit Harden completed with 17 factors and 6 assists however couldn’t forestall his new crew falling to a 111-97 highway defeat to the New York Knicks.
The 34-year-old former NBA Most Valuable Player was one among 5 Clippers gamers in double figures however Tyronn Lue’s star-studded lineup had been outgunned by the Knicks’ R.J. Barrett and Julius Randle, who mixed for 53 factors.
Clippers coach Lue appreciated what he noticed from Harden regardless of his crew’s defeat. “I thought James was really good,” Lue stated.
“It’s going to take him a little time to get in game shape, we understand that. But his presence on the floor was definitely felt.”
New York ran away with the sport in a one-sided fourth quarter, outscoring the Clippers 35-21 for a win that sees them enhance to 3-4 within the Eastern Conference.
WEMBY, SPURS HANDED REALITY CHECK
Indiana gave rising San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama a actuality verify in a 152-111 drubbing.
Wembanyama had earned rave critiques after posting 20 factors in opposition to Toronto on Sunday and 38 factors in a victory over Phoenix final Thursday.
But the 19-year-old’s scorching hand went stone chilly in Indianapolis, with the French teenager capturing simply 3-of-12 from the sector to complete 13 factors.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich stated solely two of his gamers — Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins — had carried out properly.
“They were the only guys on our team who showed consistent, decent play,” Popovich stated. “A lot of that had to do with Indiana — they were on fire and jumped on us.”
Asked about Wembanyama’s contribution, Popovich added: “He moved well. But like I said — only two guys played decently.”
EMBIID ERUPTS, STEPH SIZZLES AND NUGGETS ROAR BACK TO LIFE
In Philadelphia, reigning MVP Joel Embiid erupted for 48 factors because the Sixers cruised to a 146-128 defeat of the Washington Wizards, who’re backside of the Eastern Conference with only one win in six video games.
Embiid was in imperious kind for the Sixers, making 17-of-25 from the sector whereas draining an ideal 14 out of 14 from the free throw line. The Sixers improved to 5-1.
In the Western Conference in the meantime Steph Curry’s scorching begin to the season continued because the Golden State Warriors defeated the Detroit Pistons 120-109.
Curry is averaging greater than 30 factors a sport within the league this season and added one other 34 in Monday’s win. The Warriors improved to 6-2 to stay in third place.
In Denver, the defending NBA champion Nuggets produced a scintillating second-half comeback to sink the New Orleans Pelicans 134-116.
Denver trailed by 20 factors within the second quarter after a quick begin from the Pels, however got here roaring again to outscore their opponents 75-45 after halftime.
Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic contributed a 35-point triple-double which included 14 rebounds and 12 assists in a exceptional second-half turnaround by Denver.
