The Milwaukee Bucks played without their Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmp on Sunday – and it cost them.
The NBA’s runaway Eastern Conference log leaders and big championship favorites were handed a shock defeat.
They were beaten by humble Phoenix Suns, who currently occupy the third last rung on the long Western Conference ladder.
Phoenix rose from the doldrums, thanks to huge, giant-killer performances by Devin Booker and Ricky Rubio, to win 140-131
Booker went 13-of-17 from the field for 36 points, while Rubio had a triple-double of 25 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists.
In Antetokounmpo’s absence, Kris Middleton poured in 39 points for Milwaukee, but it simply wasn’t enough.
Antetokounmpo to also miss Nuggets battle
The Bucks will also be without Antetokounmpo for Monday’s game against the Denver Nuggets. The near seven-foot, 25-year-old basketball giant has been diagnosed with an ‘a minor joint capsule sprain of the left knee’.
He is to be rested again for the Nuggets game and may even miss Thursday’s battle against the Boston Celtics. However, there is no need for the Bucks to panic just yet.
Right now, following their Phoenix upset, their win-loss record of 53-11 still has them well clear of their closest Eastern Conference pursuers.
Second placed Toronto Raptors, the reigning NBA champions, are at a distance 45-18 and Celtics at 42-21.
The Houston Rockets stumbled to a fourth consecutive loss when the Orlando Magic surprised them by winning 126-106.
James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined to give Rockets 47 of their points. Double-doubles, however, by Nikola Vucevic (16 points and 16 rebounds) and Aaron Gordon (19 points and 10 rebounds) helped ease Orlando home victorious
LeBron, Davis lift Lakers again
LeBron James and Anthony Davis worked their combined magic again on Sunday. This time they spearheaded the Los Angeles Lakers to a narrow, but crucial 132-129 defeat of their Western Conference rivals in-chief, the LA Clippers.
James posted 28 points, nine assists and seven rebounds while Davis picked up 30 points.
In other games on Sunday:
- Andre Drummond’s 28 points and 17 rebounds helped the Cleveland Cavaliers past the San Antonio Spurs 132-129 after overtime.
- Chris Paul finished with 28 points in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 105-104 win over the Boston Celtics.
- Rui Hachimura, the ninth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, went a horrible 0-of-eight from the field in the Washington Wizards’ loss to the Miami Heat. Miami’s Duncan Robinson hit at least seven three-pointers for the third straight game.
All of Sunday’s results
Brooklyn Nets 110-107 Chicago Bulls
New Orleans Pelicans 120-107 Minnesota Timberwolves
Los Angeles Lakers 112-103 Los Angeles Clippers
Oklahoma City Thunder 105-104 Boston Celtics
Phoenix Suns 140-131 Milwaukee Bucks
Miami Heat 100-89 Washington Wizards
Indiana Pacers 112-109 Dallas Mavericks
Orlando Magic 126-106 Houston Rockets
Cleveland Cavaliers 132-129 San Antonio Spurs
New York Knicks 96-84 Detroit Pistons
Toronto Raptors 118-113 Sacramento Kings
Bucks at Nuggets
The Bucks (53-11) get a chance to bounce back against the Denver Nuggets (42-21) on Monday.
Booker, Rubio fill up stat sheet ????@DevinBook (36 PTS, 8 AST) & @rickyrubio9 (25 PTS, 13 REB, 13 AST) power the @Suns W against Milwaukee. pic.twitter.com/YhrylwcDER
— NBA (@NBA) March 9, 2020