NBA Round Up: Irving leads Celtics in thriller over Nuggets, Antetokounmpo stars in Bucks win
Celtics guard Jaylen Brown made a three-pointer with 34 seconds left on Monday, and it proved enough for Boston to beat the Nuggets 111-110 in Denver.
Kyrie Irving led Boston with a game-high 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting, while also dishing out six assists. Irving has now scored 20-plus points in eight straight games. Jayson Tatum added 20 points and six rebounds.
The Celtics (36-15) led by 11 after the first quarter, but Denver chipped away at the lead. Tied entering the final minute, the Celtics hit a couple of clutch shots and stymied the Nuggets on defense.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 24 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. The versatile center is averaging a double-double this season. Trey Lyles came off the bench to score 20 points, while Will Barton added 19 points.
The loss ended the Nuggets’ three-game winning streak, but Denver remain in eighth in the Western Conference standings.
The @celtics and @nuggets went down to the wire in a Fantastic Finish in Denver! pic.twitter.com/yZPt14M1Mb
— NBA (@NBA) January 30, 2018
AMAZING ANTETOKOUNMPO
Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points with 18 rebounds and six assists in a 107-95 win over the 76ers. He became just the fifth player with 30-plus points, 15-plus rebounds and five-plus assists in a game this season, joining DeMarcus Cousins (four times), Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid and Russell Westbrook.
#GiannisAntetokounmpo (31 PTS, 18 REB, 6 AST) put up big numbers to guide the @Bucks to the victory at home! #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/9RM0liH6S3
— NBA (@NBA) January 30, 2018
TERRIBLE TEAGUE
Timberwolves point guard Jeff Teague scored just two points on one-of-12 shooting in a 105-100 loss to the Hawks. Teague did dish out 10 assists, but his ineffectiveness from the floor helped lead to Minnesota’s surprise loss.
NOT IN OLADIPO’S HOUSE
Oladipo scored a game-high 25 points in a 105-96 win over the Hornets, and managed to produce a block on Dwight Howard.
MONDAY’S RESULTS
Indiana Pacers 105-96 Charlotte Hornets
Atlanta Hawks 105-100 Minnesota Timberwolves
Memphis Grizzlies 120-109 Phoenix Suns
Milwaukee Bucks 107-95 Philadelphia 76ers
Miami Heat 95-88 Dallas Mavericks
Boston Celtics 111-110 Denver Nuggets
THUNDER AT WIZARDS
Suddenly on fire, Oklahoma City have rattled off eight straight wins thanks to Paul George’s improved play. Westbrook has again been a triple-double threat every night, while Steven Adams has developed into a two-way threat. Bradley Beal and John Wall give Washington a chance to win, but the Wizards are still looking for a consistent third scorer.
