LDN - Sports

NBA roundup: Bucks set three-point record in rout of Heat

[December 31, 2020] The Milwaukee Bucks made an NBA record 29 3-pointers while routing the host Miami Heat 144-97 in a wire-to-wire victory on Tuesday night.

The Bucks shot 56.9 percent from long distance (29-for-51) and got 3-pointers from 12 different players -- everyone who saw the court except for two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo. The old NBA mark of 27 3-pointers was set by the Houston Rockets on April 7, 2019, against the Phoenix Suns.

The Heat, who eliminated the Bucks in five games in last season's Eastern Conference semifinals, will get a rematch with Milwaukee on Wednesday night when the teams meet again in Miami.

Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 25 points while going 4-for-5 on 3-point attempts. Jrue Holiday added 24 points and hit 6 of 10 from long range. Miami, playing without Jimmy Butler (sprained right ankle), was led by Tyler Herro's 23 points and seven assists.

Phoenix Suns 111 - New Orleans Pelicans 86

Jae Crowder scored a season-high 21 points and Cameron Johnson added 18 as host Phoenix tried an alternate approach and earned an easy win over New Orleans.

The Suns' talented guard duo of Devin Booker and Chris Paul took more of a back seat. Booker finished with eight points, his lowest total since April 2019, while Paul had nine points and nine assists.

Zion Williamson scored 20 points and Brandon Ingram added 13 for the Pelicans, who fell for the second time in the past three games, with both losses coming on the road.

New York Knicks 95 - Cleveland Cavaliers 86

Julius Randle scored a game-high 28 points and recorded his first triple-double of the season as New York frittered away a 16-point, second-quarter lead before gradually pulling away from host Cleveland.

With their second straight win, the Knicks got to .500 at 2-2 -- the deepest into a season they have been at .500 since they were 18-18 on Dec. 30, 2017. Randle finished with 12 rebounds and tied a career-high with 11 assists. Elfrid Payton finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Reggie Bullock had 17 points.

Andre Drummond had a double-double for the Cavaliers with 18 points and 17 rebounds. Collin Sexton led Cleveland with 20 points, and Darius Garland scored 17.

Orlando Magic 118 - Oklahoma City Thunder 107

Nikola Vucevic scored 28 points to lift Orlando to a road win over Oklahoma City, and the Magic improved to 4-0 for the first time in their 32-year history.

The game was tied early in the fourth quarter, but as usual, Orlando closed strong. The Magic outscored Oklahoma City 31-22 in the fourth. During its hot start, Orlando has scored at least 30 points in the fourth quarter in each game while outscoring the opposition by at least nine points every time.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander amassed 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Thunder. Isaiah Roby added 19 points and seven boards in his first career NBA start.

Chicago Bulls 115 - Washington Wizards 107

Zach LaVine scored 23 points, Coby White added 18 and Chicago pulled away for a win over host Washington.

Bulls forward Otto Porter Jr. scored 16 points, including 14 in the first half, against his former team. Wendell Carter Jr. posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds to help Chicago notch its first victory in four games under coach Billy Donovan.

Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists to record his third triple-double in as many games since joining the Wizards. Bradley Beal scored a game-high 29 points for Washington, which has lost its first four games of a season for the first time since 2012-13.

Boston Celtics 116 - Indiana Pacers 111

Jayson Tatum scored 14 of his game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter as Boston rallied past Indiana in Indianapolis.

Tatum added 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who snapped a two-game skid. Jaylen Brown had 20 points, Marcus Smart 17 and Tristan Thompson scored 14 to go with 10 rebounds.

Victor Oladipo led six Pacers in double figures with 24 points, Malcolm Brogdon had 19 as Indiana lost for the first time in four games this season.

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Sam Merrill (15) shoots a three pointer against the Miami Heat during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Golden State Warriors 116 - Detroit Pistons 106

Andrew Wiggins saved 13 of his 27 points for the final 7:41 as Golden State won a second straight on the road, defeating Detroit.

Stephen Curry led all scorers with 31 points as the Warriors, down by as many as 12 in the first half, took advantage of Blake Griffin's absence after the intermission. Griffin, who had eight points, five rebounds and three assists in 17 first-half minutes, was inadvertently smacked in the jaw by a James Wiseman forearm. He sat out the second half in concussion protocol.

Jerami Grant had 27 points for the Pistons, who were playing the second night of a back-to-back. Josh Jackson (17), Rose (15) and Saddiq Bey (11) also scored in double figures for Detroit.

Los Angeles Clippers 124 - Minnesota Timberwolves 101

Lou Williams scored 20 points off the bench and host Los Angeles crushed Minnesota. Williams converted 7 of 11 shots as the Clippers bounced back from a franchise-worst, 51-point setback to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

Paul George had 18 points, six rebounds and five assists while Serge Ibaka collected 16 points and eight boards for Los Angeles. The Clippers played their second consecutive game without Kawhi Leonard (mouth laceration) and fourth straight without Marcus Morris Sr. (sore knee).

D'Angelo Russell led the Timberwolves with 22 points. Malik Beasley scored 19, and Ricky Rubio had 17. Minnesota was without Karl-Anthony Towns (dislocated wrist) and Josh Okogie (hamstring strain).

Sacramento Kings 125 - Denver Nuggets 115

De'Aaron Fox had 24 points and nine assists, Richaun Holmes scored 20 points, and host Sacramento rallied to beat Denver. Marvin Bagley III scored 18 points, Harrison Barnes and Tyrese Haliburton had 13 apiece and Buddy Hield and Nemanja Bjelica scored 12 each for the Kings.

Denver's Nikola Jokic finished with 26 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for his third triple-double in four games. It was his 44th career triple-double, a franchise record. Jokic also committed a career-high-tying 10 turnovers.

Michael Porter Jr. had 30 points and 10 rebounds, Monte Morris scored 24 in place of Jamal Murray, and Gary Harris added 11 for the Nuggets. Murray sat out due to a right elbow contusion.

Philadelphia 76ers 100 - Toronto Raptors 93

Joel Embiid scored 29 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lift host Philadelphia past Toronto. The 76ers outscored the Raptors 18-6 in the final 5 1/2 minutes to pull out the win.

Embiid made 14 of 16 free throws and overcame a brief injury scare in the third quarter. Tobias Harris added 26 points and 11 rebounds, Seth Curry contributed 17 points and Ben Simmons had 11 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Sixers.

Kyle Lowry led Toronto with 24 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Pascal Siakam added 20 points before fouling out. OG Anunoby also had 20 for the Raptors, who fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2005-06.

--Field Level Media

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