Milwaukee (USA), May 2 (EFE) .- Greek power forward Giannis Antetokoumpo, already recovered from the sprained right ankle that prevented him from playing on Friday against the Chicago Bulls, this Sunday contributed 49 points in the victory of the Milwaukee Bucks 117-114 over the Brooklyn Nets.
Antetokounmpo, who made 21 of 36 shots from the field, including four triples of eight attempts, also grabbed eight rebounds, gave four assists and put up three blocks.
His great individual work also allowed him to beat forward Kevin Durant the Most Valuable Players (MVP) duel after the Nets star had a double-double of 42 points and 10 rebounds, but could not avoid the second consecutive loss of the team. from Brooklyn.
The defeat cost the Nets (43-22) to lose the leadership of the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference that is now back in the hands of the Philadelphia Sixers (42-21), who play tonight in San Antonio against the Spurs.
While the Bucks (40-24), who won the second consecutive game, are two and a half games behind both teams in the fight to finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Along with Antetokoumpo, forward Khris Middleton achieved a double-double of 26 points, 11 rebounds -10 defensive, distributed six assists and recovered two balls.
While point guard Jrue Holiday finished with 18 points, including three triples from eight attempts he made, he grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists.
Along with the great work of Durant, who scored 16 of 33 shots from the field, with 7 of 13 3-point attempts, point guard Kyrie Irving reached 20 points, but was not inspired by the offensive game.
Irving missed 13 of 21 shots from the field, including six of eight 3-point attempts, and finished with seven rebounds and six assists.
Backup guard Landry Shamet continued as the Nets’ sixth player, contributing 17 points after scoring four 3-of-seven attempts.
While center DeAndre Jordan finished as the best Nets player in the paint by contributing a double-double of 10 points, 11 rebounds and a block.
The two teams will meet again for the third and final time on Tuesday, again in Milwaukee, and the winner will get the series, and the advantage if they are tied in the standings at the end of the regular season.
(c) EFE Agency