Brook Lopez scored 25 points and the Milwaukee Bucks extended their winning streak since the start of the season to nine, extending a franchise record, with a 108-94 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was absent for the first time this season. He was placed on the “questionable” players list with left knee soreness one night after recording his first triple-double of the season at Minnesota.
The Greek star did not participate in the warm-up prior to the match. Coach Mike Budenholzer said afterward that the league’s second-leading scorer, averaging 32.6 points per game, would take the night off.
Without Antetokounmpo, Lopez led Milwaukee on a 10-of-16 shooting streak that included four of the Bucks’ 17 3-pointers. Jevon Carter and Grayson Allen had five 3-pointers apiece and finished with 18 and 19 points, respectively.
Bobby Portis posted his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 21 rebounds. Jrue Holiday also finished with a double-double: 10 points and 13 assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was 7-for-16 shooting and led Oklahoma City with 18 points. Josh Giddey scored 15 points and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl added 12.
Celtics 133
Knicks 118
Jaylen Brown had 30 points, Jayson Tatum added 26 and the Boston Celtics hit a franchise-high 17 3-pointers to beat the New York Knicks 133-118 on Saturday night.
Brown and Tatum hit six 3-pointers apiece, while backup point guard Sam Hauser set career highs with 16 points and five 3-pointers.
Malcolm Brogdon totaled 14 points.
Julius Randle scored 29 points and RJ Barrett added 27 for the Knicks, who have lost four of their last five meetings. Jalen Brunson had 22 points and 10 assists.
Two Randle free throws brought the Knicks within four points midway through the fourth quarter, but the Celtics went on an 8-2 run, capped by a Tatum 3-pointer for Boston’s 26th, to increase the lead to 124- 114, with 3:34 remaining.
Grant Williams then set a club record for three-pointers in a regular-season game, with 14 seconds left.
hawks 124
Pelicans 121
Dejounte Murray had 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-121 in overtime on Saturday.
Clint Capela added 21 points and 19 rebounds for Atlanta, which improved to 6-3 with its second straight win.
The Pelicans fell to a 5-4 record. They have suffered three overtime losses in the first three weeks of the season.
CJ McCollum finished with 29 points, while Zion Williamson set a season-high 13 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for New Orleans, who played on consecutive nights.
Young, who wore goggles three nights after being hit in the eye, went 9-for-26 from the field and was the subject of a fast-paced attack that outscored New Orleans 22-14 in points scored on fast breaks.