MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jrue Holiday matched his career high 40 points and made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 25.2 seconds left in overtime as the Milwaukee Bucks edged the short-handed Boston Celtics 131-125 on Tuesday for their 11th consecutive victory.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 36 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists as the Bucks (40-17) moved within a half-game of the Celtics (41-17) in the Eastern Conference standings.
Boston was playing without both its All-Stars – Jayson Tatum (non-COVID illness) and Jaylen Brown (facial fracture) – as well as Marcus Smart (sprained right ankle) and Al Horford (swelling in right knee).
Wisconsin native Sam Hauser made a game-tying 3-pointer from 29 feet away with three seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Boston’s Derrick White then scored the first five points of overtime, but the Bucks scored the final seven points of the game.
White, the reigning Eastern Conference player of the week, led the Celtics with 27 points. Malcolm Brogdon added 26 and Mike Muscala had 18.
SUNS 120, KINGS 109
PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 32 points, Deandre Ayton had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and Phoenix beat Sacramento with superstar acquisition Kevin Durant watching from the bench.
It was the first home game for the Suns since they completed a trade with Brooklyn for Durant, who is recovering from a right knee injury and hasn’t played since Jan. 12. He was introduced during a timeout in the third quarter and received a standing ovation. Durant is expected back sometime after this weekend’s All-Star break.
Booker was 13 of 20 from the field and did not attempt a 3-pointer in 29 minutes. Chris Paul had a season-high 19 assists and scored 17 points for Phoenix, which has won 11 of its last 14. Josh Okogie scored 19 points and made a team-high three 3-pointers.
De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 35 points, following up his 36-point performance in a win over Dallas on Saturday.
CLIPPERS 134, WARRIORS 124
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points, tying his career high with seven 3-pointers, and Los Angeles beat Golden State to snap a two-game skid.
Norman Powell added 24 points and Paul George had 20 points and eight assists for the Clippers, who debuted newly acquired Eric Gordon, Bones Hyland and Mason Plumlee. They helped outscore the Warriors’ bench, 49-42. Gordon finished with seven points, Hyland had six and Plumlee scored eight in the teams’ last game before the All-Star break.
Jordan Poole led seven Warriors…
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