Reigning Finals MVP Antetokounmpo dominant as Bucks beat Lakers

Giannis Antetokounmpo scores season-high 47 points in Bucks' 109-102 victory

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 109-102 in a Wednesday NBA game as the winners' superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a season-high 47 points.

Antetokounmpo, the 2021 NBA Finals MVP, also took nine rebounds at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee were leading the game 64-53 at the break. But in the third quarter that the Lakers scored 30 points, the visitors narrowed the gap to two points, 85-83.

With three minutes and nine seconds left in the fourth quarter, Antetokounmpo received a personal foul after scoring a two-point shot. He also scored the free throw.

So the Bucks were leading the game 104-95, which meant a critical turning point to win the clash.

Milwaukee center Bobby Portis scored 17 points.

Also, the Bucks star Khris Middleton had 16 points, and his teammate Pat Connaughton added 16 points.

The Lakers were without LeBron James as he is still suffering from an abdominal strain.

Talen Horton-Tucker led the Lakers, scoring 25 points. He took 12 rebounds as well.

Lakers' point guard Russell Westbrook tallied 19 points and 15 assists.

Anthony Davis scored 18 points for the Lakers. Davis also grabbed nine rebounds.

Last season's NBA champions Bucks are now in the 11th position in the Eastern Conference standings with seven wins. They lost eight others in the 2021-22 campaign.

Eighth in the West, the Lakers have an 8-8 win/loss record.

- Suns earn 10th straight win

The Phoenix Suns beat the Dallas Mavericks 105-98 to have 10 wins in a row this season.

It was their longest winning streak since the 2009-10 season.

Suns shooting guard Devin Booker scored 24 points and took nine rebounds at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Deandre Ayton racked up 19 points and had 13 rebounds for the Suns.

The Phoenix playmaker scored seven points but produced 14 assists.

The Mavericks' star guard Luka Doncic did not play in this game for a sprained left ankle and knee. The 22-year-old was injured in the game against Denver Nuggets that Dallas won 111-101 on Monday.

Dallas' Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points for his team and Kristaps Porzingis added 21.

Porzingis also took eight rebounds and made seven assists.

The Suns are in the second spot in the West with 11-3.

Dallas, another team in the Western Conference, have a 9-5 win/loss record to come fourth in the standings.

- Blazers shock Bulls in Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers displayed a heroic performance to stun the Chicago Bulls 112-107 as the Blazers came from a 20-point deficit in Portland's Moda Center.

Damian Lillard bagged 22 points and made 10 assists for the Blazers.

Portland center Jusuf Nurkic tallied 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Norman Powell added 18 points.

The Bulls' shooting guard Zach LaVine was the game's top scorer with 30 points and DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points.

The Blazers came seventh in the Western Conference. They won eight games but lost eight others.

Chicago are in third place in the East as they have a 10-5 win/loss record this season.

- Results:

Charlotte Hornets - Washington Wizards: 97-87

Detroit Pistons - Indiana Pacers: 97-89

Atlanta Hawks - Boston Celtics: 110-99

Brooklyn Nets - Cleveland Cavaliers: 109-99

New York Knicks - Orlando Magic: 98-104

Miami Heat - New Orleans Pelicans: 113-98