Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Bucks to NBA Cup triumph against the Pacers.©(@YahooSports)
Giannis Antetokounmpo starred for the Milwaukee Bucks, recording his second triple-double of the season as the team defeated the Indiana Pacers 129-117 on Friday night. Antetokounmpo finished with 37 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, leading the Bucks wire-to-wire in their NBA Cup matchup. The win improved Milwaukee’s record to 2-0 in the in-season tournament.
Damian Lillard also played a key role in the victory, contributing 24 points and 13 assists for his third consecutive double-double. The win marked the Bucks’ fifth victory in their last six games after a rocky 2-8 start to the season. The team had six players in double figures for points, with Antetokounmpo notching his 47th career triple-double.
Meanwhile, in Washington, Jaylen Brown led the Boston Celtics to a 108-96 victory over the Washington Wizards. Brown recorded 31 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Celtics secure their third straight win. Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday each contributed 16 points, and the Celtics now sit at 2-1 in the NBA Cup standings, with hopes of making a strong push in the tournament.
James Harden led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 104-88 win over the Sacramento Kings, extending their winning streak to four games. Harden posted 22 points and nine assists, helping the Clippers improve to 1-1 in the NBA Cup. Despite missing their leading scorer, Norman Powell, due to a hamstring strain, the Clippers cruised to victory and remain a contender in the tournament.
In Philadelphia, rookie Jared McCain made headlines with his declaration of being “the rookie of the year” after scoring a three-pointer in the 76ers’ 113-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets. McCain was selected 16th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft and scored 30 points, leading the Sixers to a 113-98 victory and ending their five-game losing streak. Despite missing Joel Embiid and Paul George, McCain’s performance was historic, marking his seventh consecutive game with 20-plus points. He joined a select group of rookies in franchise history to achieve such a feat, including legends like Allen Iverson and Jerry Stackhouse.
