Giant killers Miami Heat did it again on Monday. They whipped the runaway Eastern Conference leaders and NBA Championship favourites Milwaukee Bucks 105-89.
And that enabled them to become the only NBA team so far this year to beat the Bucks twice.
How did they do it? Nullifying Milwaukee’s 25-year-old kingpin Giannis Antetokounmpo was their answer. The near seven-foot Greek giant was well and truly bottled up.
He was only able to match a season-low 13 points on six-for-18 shootings and 15 rebounds. Six of those points came in the first half and seven in the second.
The Heat, who, at 39-22, currently sit in 4th pace behind Eastern Conference front runners, the Bucks (52-9), were ably led by Jae Crowder and Jimmy Butler. Each one of them collected 18 points followed by Bam Adebayo with 14.
If the New Jersey sports betting industry was moved by the stunning defeat, they didn’t show it. Their odds on the Buck winning the NBA Championship this season hardly moved.
The Bucks still the Bookie’s favorites
The current winning odds of +230 on the Bucks winning the championship pretty much reflect the general trend in NJ.
The LA Lakers are in second place at +280. Major Western Conference rivals LA Clippers are 3rd at +350 with the Houston Rockets 4th at +1200.
James Harden, one of Antetokounmpo’s biggest rivals for the MVP award this year, had a better Monday than the Greek.
Harden posted 35 points for Rockets
Playing away, he posted 35 points and eight assists. Unfortunately for the Rockets, though, it wasn’t enough to stop the lowly New York Knicks edging them 125-123.
Russell Westbrook (24), Robert Covington (20, 13 rebounds), Danuel House Jr. (20) and Eric Gordon (11) also had double-digit points for the Rockets.
Rookie guard RJ Barrett tied his season-high with 27 points as the Knicks snapped the Rockets’ six-game winning streak.
McCollum inspires Trail Blazers
CJ McCollum put on a dazzling show with 41 points as the Portland Trail Blazers thumped Orlando Magic 130-107. Portland was especially impressive in the final quarter when they outscored
Orlando 38-19. Nikola Vucevic starred for the Magic with 30 points and 11 rebounds.
Collin Sexton, in the meantime, had a game-high 32 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 126-113 loss at home to the Utah Jazz.
DeRozan struggles
For someone averaging 22.6 points per game this season, Monday’s performance was not what we have come to expect of DeMar DeRozan.
The San Antonio Spurs star was just four of 10 from the field for 10 points in 38 minutes of action in the Spurs 116-111 defeat by Indiana Pacers.
Monday’s results
Utah Jazz 126-113 Cleveland Cavaliers
New York Knicks 125-123 Houston Rockets
Portland Trail Blazers 130-107 Orlando Magic
Memphis Grizzlies 127-88 Atlanta Hawks
Miami Heat 105-89 Milwaukee Bucks
Chicago Bulls 109-107 Dallas Mavericks
Indiana Pacers 116-111 San Antonio Spurs
76ers at Lakers
The Philadelphia 76ers (37-24) will have their hands full when they play LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers (46-13) on Tuesday.
The 76ers are missing All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, while Josh Richardson has been ruled out with concussion. The 76ers are 9-22 on the road following their loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
What a ???? from Markelle Fultz. pic.twitter.com/5ABpIdIxQ6
— NBA (@NBA) March 3, 2020