Rocket lose five straight, Warriors beaten and Antetokounmpo wins it for Bucks against OKC
The Houston Rockets and their woes continued, beaten 121-103 by the Washington Wizards in the NBA on Friday.
Otto Porter Jr. starred for the Wizards as the Rockets crashed to a fifth consecutive defeat.
Porter led Washington’s balanced scoring attack, racking up 26 points with seven assists and six rebounds, while John Wall had five steals to go with 17 points and four assists.
Washington (20-16) used stifling defense to hold the Rockets to a season-low 48 points at half-time.
James Harden posted 20 points for the slumping Rockets (25-9).
The Golden State Warriors were stunned in a surprise 111-100 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
ANTETOKOUNMPO UPSTAGES WESTBROOK
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Russell Westbrook squared off in an intense matchup Friday, and the former made a game-winner as time expired to lead his team past the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-95.
Antetokounmpo scored 23 points with 12 rebounds and six assists, while Westbrook poured in 40 points with 14 points and nine assists.
SCHRODER STRUGGLES IN HAWKS LOSS
Atlanta Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder hit just six of 20 field-goal attempts in a 111-98 loss to the Serge Ibaka-less Toronto Raptors. Schroder scored 14 points with nine assists, but team-mate Taurean Prince scored 30 points with 10 rebounds proving what a true leader does in big games.
The Raptors suspended Ibaka one game for violating team rules.
WESTBROOK WITH THE SLAM!
The reigning MVP has moves.
RUSS DROPS THE HAMMER!#ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/WrJSXlDuSP
— NBA (@NBA) December 30, 2017
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Washington Wizards 121-103 Houston Rockets
Dallas Mavericks 128-120 New Orleans Pelicans
Chicago Bulls 119-107 Indiana Pacers
Toronto Raptors 111-98 Atlanta Hawks
Milwaukee Bucks 97-95 Oklahoma City Thunder
Brooklyn Nets 111-87 Miami Heat
Phoenix Suns 111-101 Sacramento Kings
Charlotte Hornets 111-100 Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Clippers 121-106 Los Angeles Lakers
SPURS AT PISTONS
The Detroit Pistons have won five of their last seven games after losing seven in a row to start December. San Antonio have won three consecutive games, climbing to third in the west. The Spurs are now without Rudy Gay, but Kawhi Leonard is starting to get his legs back, and LaMarcus Aldridge has regained his All-Star form.