Hawks halt Bucks' winning streak with dramatic comeback.© (@camisa_23)
The Milwaukee Bucks saw their seven-game winning streak end on Wednesday with a 104-119 loss to the Atlanta Hawks despite a strong performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo scored 31 points, while Damian Lillard contributed 25. However, the Hawks, led by Jalen Johnson and De’Andre Hunter, who scored 23 and 20 points respectively, managed to fight back from a 10-point deficit. Atlanta secured their fifth consecutive victory, while the Bucks now look ahead to a challenging road game against the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat, losing 134-93. Miami’s Tyler Herro was the standout performer, scoring 31 points, including 21 in the third quarter, and hitting nine of the Heat’s record-tying 24 three-pointers. Miami’s dominant performance was highlighted by a franchise-record 42 assists. The Lakers have lost six of their past eight games and have seen their NBA record slip to 12-10. Coach JJ Redick called the loss “embarrassing” and criticized the team for a lack of fight and professionalism. This loss came just two days after a heavy 29-point defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons 130-120 despite the absence of star player Jayson Tatum. The Orlando Magic bounced back from a heavy loss to the New York Knicks with a 106-102 victory over the injury-depleted Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia. The LA Clippers also suffered a second consecutive loss to the Timberwolves, going down 80-108, while the Brooklyn Nets triumphed over the Indiana Pacers with a 99-90 victory.
