NBA Wrap, Memphis Tire Nichols Tribute, Scores, Results, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Dunk, Milwaukee Bucks, Reaction, Pictures, Latest Updates

The Milwaukee Bucks scored a monster 85 points in the first half as they outlasted the fast-shooting Indiana Pacers for a 141-131 win.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was at his best, scoring 41 points and dishing out 12 rebounds and six assists as he celebrated his confirmation as captain of the NBA All-Star team.

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But it was a thunderous dunk in the fourth quarter that got the fans on their feet.

With just under nine minutes remaining, a misplaced pass by the Pacers ended up in the hands of the Bucks’ Grayson Allen.

The former Duke product made his way down the court, with Antetokounmpo a few steps behind him.

Just before Allen entered the arc, he looked back and saw Antetokounmpo outside.

After drawing three defenders with him, Allen threw the ball to Antetokounmpo who then flew from the charity stripe and hit a dunk as he went past Pacers forward Oshae Brissett.

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Fans inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse were stunned by what they saw as the Bucks bench erupted in celebration.

Indiana had cut the deficit to eight points with just over four minutes remaining, trying to make the most of Antetokoumpo’s troubles at the free throw line by repeatedly fouling him.

The Milwaukee star helped their defense by making five free throws in the space of a minute, and while the Pacers got within seven points with 2:06 to play, they would get no closer.

Jrue Holiday scored 23 points and dished out nine assists for the Bucks. Myles Turner led the Pacers with 24 points.

Antetokounmpo’s dominant performance came a day after he was confirmed as the starter and team captain for next month’s All-Star game as the top vote-getter in the Eastern Conference.

It will be the third time the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player has been honored, after leading teams to the midseason exhibition in 2019 and 2020.

The win improves the Bucks’ season record to 32-17, while the Pacers fall to 24-27.

MEMPHIS HONOR TIRE NICHOLS

The Grizzlies fell 111-100 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis, where the game was preceded by a moment of silence to honor the memory of Tire Nichols, the Memphis man whose fatal beating has led to murder charges against five police officers.

Anthony Edwards scored 25 points to lead the Timberwolves.

Ja Morant had a triple-double of 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for Memphis, but the Grizzlies finished their road trip 0-5 after an 11-game winning streak.

Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said before the game that his team was saddened by the “devastating” news that came out of Memphis about Nichols during their weekend road trip.

“It’s been hard to process,” Jenkins said.

“There is a lot of emotion. We can’t wait to get home to put our arms around everyone in Memphis as they struggle with the senseless loss of life.

The death of Nichols, a 29-year-old black man, after he was beaten by five black officers after being stopped on suspicion of reckless driving, sparked concern in the NBA.

The league and several teams, as well as individual players, released statements offering condolences to Nichols’ family and calling for peaceful protests as Memphis police released video of the beating on Friday.

Memphis forward Jaren Jackson Jr. directed a tweet before the game to Nichols’ family, saying, “My teammates and I are and have been paying attention. We are with you.”

The NBA called the footage “horrifying” in a statement.

“While there have been steps toward accountability in this case, the NBA family remains committed to working with advocates, policymakers and law enforcement to work toward solutions to the issues that we continue to face off,” the league said.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra talked about Nichols before his team’s 110-105 win over the Orlando Magic, saying “this is crazy.”

GIDDEY IS AGAIN LIKE THUNDER STUN CAVS

In Oklahoma City, the Thunder took advantage of the absence of Cleveland star Donovan Mitchell to stun the Cavaliers 112-100.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points, his fourth straight game with at least 30 points as Oklahoma City fights to get into the postseason play-in tournament.

Australian star Josh Giddey played another crucial supporting role, finishing with 15 points on six-for-12 shooting, six rebounds and three assists.

That means Giddey has scored at least 10 points in all 13 games this January. According to Bally Sports Oklahoma, the Australian guard has had his career-high month, averaging 18.6 points on 52 percent from the field, as well as 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists.

Giddey was particularly influential in the second half against Cleveland, consistently pushing the ball up the floor at pace to put the Cavaliers’ defense under pressure.

“We were getting shutouts, so that allows our offense to continue,” Giddey told reporters after the game. “I think when we have five guys on the floor that can handle the ball and make plays, it’s a luxury. I think the more we take advantage of that, the better off we will be.

“I was just trying to get the rhythm going, trying to push the tempo in transition, whether it was for myself or for teammates, and we had some good looks.

“We built a good lead early in that (quarter) and picking up the pace was part of that. But I think when we got into the half court we executed, we made stops on the other end. Both sides of the ball in those last 12 minutes were very good.”

WARRIORS move away

In San Francisco, Stephen Curry scored 35 points and Klay Thompson added 29 as the NBA champion Golden State Warriors pulled away late to finish off the Toronto Raptors 129-117.

Curry also dished out 11 of the Warriors’ 40 assists in an entertaining shootout that saw the hosts eventually pull away with a 31-point fourth quarter.

Jonathan Kuminga scored 15 points to lead the Golden State reserves, who outscored their Raptors counterparts 39-26.

Fred VanVleet had 28 points and 10 assists for the Raptors, who lost OG Anunoby to a wrist injury in the first half when he went down hard on the left side when he was fouled while darting toward the basket

COMPLETE RESULTS

Pacers 131-141 Bucks