Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown finally shared a court again. Giannis Antetokounmpo played through a wrist sprain. The Milwaukee Bucks hit a new low. And that was just Wednesday’s slate of NBA games.
Paul George Crashes Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown Reunion
The matchup everyone circled finally arrived, and it did not disappoint—only for a much different reason. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown met for the first time since the offseason trade, amid weeks of speculation about their strained relationship and some pregame tension. But the story of the night turned out to be Paul George, who went off for 36 points on 14-for-22 shooting, including six three-pointers, as the Boston Celtics routed the Philadelphia 76ers, 123-101.
Boston built a lead as large as 29 points, and Tatum had the last laugh against his former co-star with 21 points and six rebounds. Tyrese Maxey led Philly with 24, but the Sixers never had an answer. Asked afterward about apparently ignoring Tatum before tipoff, Brown shrugged it off, saying “I wasn’t paying attention.” The Celtics improved to 9-2, while Philadelphia fell to 9-3.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Delivers Despite a Wrist Sprain
Giannis Antetokounmpo was listed as questionable with a right wrist sprain. He played anyway, and he made it count. The Miami Heat superstar put up 30 points in just 30 minutes on 12-for-21 shooting, to go with 11 rebounds and 4 assists in a 115-109 win over the Utah Jazz.
The victory capped a five-game road trip for the Heat and was their second straight. Pelle Larsson chipped in 14 points, and Utah was shorthanded, missing Lauri Markkanen to a wrist sprain of his own, joining Jusuf Nurkic on the injury list.
Knicks Bury the Struggling Bucks
If you thought Antetokounmpo’s old team was struggling, Tuesday did not help. The Milwaukee Bucks fell to 1-10 after a 117-85 beatdown at the hands of the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Bucks managed just 13 points in the second quarter and 13 more in the fourth, and the Knicks led by 24 at the break.
It was the Knicks’ fourth straight win and moved them to 6-4. OG Anunoby led the way with 19 points on five three-pointers, and he pointed to the team’s improving defense after the game. For Milwaukee, Kasparas Jakucionis scored 11 and Nate Ament added 10.
