Nikola Jovic guided a depleted Miami Heat team to a dominant 123-97 victory over the struggling Bucks on Tuesday.
Miami Heat overcame the absence of key players like Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, and Josh Richardson to deliver an impressive shooting performance in a dominant victory over the Bucks at the Fiserv Forum. Nikola Jovic led the Heat with 24 points, including five three-pointers, while Duncan Robinson added 23 points with six threes. Miami Heat made 19 of 40 three-point attempts, had six players scoring in double figures, and Kevin Love contributed 19 points off the bench.
The loss left Bucks coach Doc Rivers with concerns as his team struggled against Miami’s well-organized defense. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 23 points, but the team couldn’t find momentum. Miami Heat, who lost in the NBA Finals last season, improved to 29-25 and are seventh in the Eastern Conference, while the Bucks dropped to 35-20, ranking third behind Boston and Cleveland.
The Celtics extended their winning streak to five games by defeating the Brooklyn Nets 118-110. Tatum had an impressive performance, scoring 41 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and dishing out five assists. Jaylen Brown contributed 19 points, while Al Horford and Derrick White each added 16 points. This victory helped the Celtics maintain their top position in the Eastern Conference with a record of 42-12.
In another location on Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Orlando Magic with a score of 127-113. Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a total of 65 points, leading the Thunder to a comeback victory after trailing by 11 points in the first quarter.
In the Western Conference, Minnesota maintained their lead over Oklahoma City by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 121-109. Anthony Edwards contributed 41 points to the Timberwolves’ win on the road. With a record of 38-16, Minnesota is currently at the top of the West, holding a one-game advantage over the Thunder, who are in second place with a 37-17 record.
In Phoenix, the fifth-ranked Suns managed to come back from an 11-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat the Sacramento Kings 130-125 in a back-and-forth game that featured 17 lead changes. De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 40 points, while Domantas Sabonis recorded a 35-point triple-double with 18 rebounds and 12 assists.
In Los Angeles, the Lakers easily defeated the struggling Detroit Pistons, who currently hold the lowest position in the Eastern Conference with a poor record of 8-45. The Lakers won comfortably with a score of 125-111, and LeBron James was the top scorer for the home team with 25 points.
