Oklahoma City is way ahead of schedule and so is Chet Holmgren, the rookie big man making history in the Thunder’s 123-110 win over the Houston Rockets.
Holmgren managed to score 19 points in the fourth quarter to help the Thunder secure their 12th double-digit comeback after trailing by 16 at one point in Monday’s game.
The 21-year-old had 29 points (5-8 3PT), eight rebounds, seven assists, one steal and three blocks in the win, becoming the first player in NBA history to record 100 3-pointers points and 100 blocks in one season. .
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Oh, and there are still 25 games to play and yet the Thunder as a team have already matched last year’s win total of 39.
Australian Josh Giddey (two points) was the only OKC starter not to reach double figures Monday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way with 36 points.
A much-improved Jalen Williams added 22 points while Lu Dort got off to a fast start to reach 16 points after going 4 of 6 from downtown.
All five of Houston’s starters also reached double figures, with Jabari Smith Jr. leading the way with 20 points to go and 17 rebounds, while Alperen Sengun also had a double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds).
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DOC RIVERS HAS THE LAST LAUGH AFTER SIXERS FANS BOOING FORMER COACH
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out nine assists to lead the dominant Milwaukee Bucks to a 119-98 NBA victory in Philadelphia on Monday.
New Bucks coach Doc Rivers scored a victory over his former club, with the 76ers firing Rivers last May after three seasons at the helm of the franchise.
Milwaukee hired Rivers, who was booed by the Philadelphia crowd, last month to replace the fired Adrian Griffin.
Damian Lillard added 24 points, nine assists and seven rebounds while Malik Beasley added 20 points as the Bucks made 43 of 79 shots from the floor (54.4%) and held the Sixers to 36 of 97 ( 37.1%) on shots.
Milwaukee, coming off a win Friday against Western Conference leader Minnesota, took a 69-48 halftime lead and remained in control until the finish despite some second-half stumbles.
“We did a good job holding on to the win we got against Minnesota,” Antetokounmpo said.
“We came out and played hard the first two quarters. In the third quarter we were a little sloppy. We turned the ball over a few times. But going into the fourth quarter, I thought we did our best by finding each other and making the right plays offensively.
“Defensively, the group was there all night. They made some tough threes, but every time they were in the paint we would jump clean and get the rebound and go the other way.
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The Greek star, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, hit 10 of 17 from the floor and leads the NBA with 27 30-point, 10-rebound performances this season.
Milwaukee improved to 37-21, third in the Eastern Conference, and Antetokounmpo likes what he sees from the team these days as the Bucks seek a second NBA title in four seasons.
“We have to continue to play better, build good habits and play hard,” he said.
“These last two games we played hard and that’s who we are. When we don’t play hard, we don’t look like the Bucks.
The Sixers, playing without injured reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid, were led by 24 points from Tyrese Maxey.
PHOENIX PUSHES THE LAKERS
In Phoenix, Grayson Allen scored 24 points and Kevin Durant added 22 to lead the host Suns past the Los Angeles Lakers 123-113.
Devin Booker had 21 points, Royce O’Neale added 20 and Jusuf Nurkic contributed 18 points, 22 rebounds and seven assists for the Suns, who improved to 34-24.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 28 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds while Anthony Davis had 22 points and 14 rebounds and D’Angelo Russell added 20 points.
Before hosting Orlando later Monday, the Atlanta Hawks announced that leading scorer Trae Young suffered a torn ligament in his left pinky finger and will undergo surgery Tuesday to repair the injury, putting him out of action. gap for at least the next four weeks.
At 24-32, the Hawks rank 10th in the Eastern Conference.
OTHER NBA SCORES
Nonconformists 111 beaten by the Pacers 133
Cavaliers 114 defeated Wizards 105
Magic 92 defeated by the Hawks 109
Defeat of the Bulls 114 Pelicans 106
Defeat of the Nuggets 119 Warriors 103
