Big men with big-time performances dominated this seven-game NBA Saturday as Giannis Antetokoumpo, Domantas Sabonis, and Nikola Jokic bannered their respective teams to victories.
SABONIS DROPS 20-20 GAME, GIANNIS-LED BUCKS SURVIVE MAGIC
- Sacramento Kings (19-19) def. Boston Celtics (27-11), 114-97: Domantas Sabonis muscled his way for his second 20-20 game of the season as the Kings rolled to a season-high sixth straight win in beating the defending champs in Boston.
- Domas Domination: Sabonis was a one-man rebounding machine in grabbing a career-high 28 boards on top of 23 points as Sacramento is now 6-1 under interim head coach Doug Christie.
- Milwaukee Bucks (20-16) def. Orlando Magic (22-18), 109-96: Giannis Antetokounmpo unloaded 41 points, the most a Bucks player all-time scored against a Magic, and pushed Milwaukee to their third straight win.
[ALSO READ: Bucks weather gutsy Magic stand, spoil Paolo Banchero’s return]
- Indiana Pacers (21-18 ) def. Golden State Warriors (19-19), 108-96: Make it five straight wins for the Pacers after Tyrese Haliburtons’ 25-point, 10-assist outing was too much to handle for the short-handed Warriors.
- New Orleans Pelicans (8-31) def. Philadelphia 76ers (15-21), 123-115: Without suspended superstar Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum took over for an impressive Pelicans road win in Philly.
- CJ COOKS ANEW: McCollum posted a team-high 38 points, Dejounte Murray came up with an all-around 17-10-6 statline for New Orleans third victory in their last five games.
JOKIC MARKS RETURN WITH TRIP-DUB; THUNDER BACK ON TRACK
- Denver Nuggets (22-15) def. Brooklyn Nets (13-25), 124-105: Nikola Jokic returned from a two-game absence in a ‘casual’ Joker outing and propelled the Nuggets past the Nets.
- OKC Thunder (31-6) def. New York Knicks (25-14), 119-115: Back to regular programming are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the West no. 1 Thunder after completing a season sweep of the Knicks.
[ALSO READ: SGA-powered Thunder bounce back big-time with 25-point rout of Knicks]
- Chicago Bulls (18-20) def. Washington Wizards (6-30), 138-105: Zach LaVine sustained his fiery scoring form in a 33-point Bulls crushing of the lowly Wizards.
- In an Elite Company: LaVine fired 33 points, his fifth straight game with 30 points or more, becoming the only third player in franchise history after Michael Jordan and DeMar DeRozan to achieve such a feat.
