Jamal Murray and Trae Young eclipsed the 40-point mark while Giannis Antetokounmpo stuffed the stat sheet in leading the Milwaukee Bucks past the Sacramento Kings.
Meanwhile, the league-leaders in the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder took care of business before their much-awaited rematch.
YOUNG, MURRAY DROP 40-PIECE IN BIG SCORING NIGHTS
- Atlanta Hawks (20-19) def. Phoenix Suns (19-20), 122-117: Trae Young and Onyeka Okongwu put up monster performances in Hawks’ payback over the Suns.
- Gimme Some of that Hawk Juice: Trae Young delivered a season-high 43-point outing against the Suns as Atlanta returned the favor against Phoenix in their second meeting in the last five days.
- New Orleans Pelicans (9-32) def. Chicago Bulls (18-22), 130-115: Trey Murphy fell just three points shy of tying his career-high, finishing with 32 points in a bounce-back Pelicans win.
- Denver Nuggets (24-15) def. Dallas Mavericks (22-18), 118-99: Jamal Murray went off with a season-high 45 points in leading the Nuggets to a fourth straight win.
[ALSO READ: Jamal Murray torches Mavericks with season-high 45 as Nuggets stay hot]
- Brooklyn Nets (14-26) def. Portland Trail Blazers (13-26), 132-114: Cam Johnson returned from a five-game absence to score 32 points, spoiling Scoot Henderson’s career-night in a Nets road win.
GIANNIS, BUCKS STOP KINGS; THUNDER, CAVS STAY CRUISING
- Milwaukee Bucks (21-17) def. Sacramento Kings (20-20), 130-115: Giannis Antetokounmpo posted his fifth triple-double of the season as the Bucks ended the Kings seven-game winning streak in the Cream City.
- The Big 50: Antetokounmpo posted his 50th career triple-double, becoming the 12th player overall to reach the mark in a dominating fashion.
- OKC Thunder (33-6) def. Philadelphia 76ers (15-23), 118-102: The West-leading Thunder now won 18 of their last 19 games thanks to their NBA-best 16th road dub at expense of the Sixers.
- Calm Before the Storm: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander logged his sixth 30-point game in the last seven outings as OKC faces the Cleveland Cavaliers next in a much-anticipated rematch.
- Cleveland Cavaliers (34-5) def. Indiana Pacers (15-23), 127-117: Donovan Mitchell waxed hoy early in a resounding Cavaliers payback on the Pacers that put an end to Indiana’s unbeaten run at six games.
[ALSO READ: Donovan Mitchell banners Cavaliers payback vs Pacers to snap Indiana’s six-game win streak]
