Antetokounmpo powers Bucks past Hornets for 50th win

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Charlotte Hornets 131-114 on Saturday night for their NBA-best 50th victory.

Brook Lopez added 25 points and eight rebounds as the Bucks used a second-half surge to knock out the Hornets. It's just the second 50-win season in the past 30 years for Milwaukee (50-16), which went 52-30 during the 2000-01 season and reached the Eastern Conference finals.

The Bucks went 17 for 44 from 3-point range and placed six players in double figures. Malcolm Brogdon and reserve Nikola Mirotic each scored 18 points, and Donte DiVincenzo and Eric Bledsoe had 11 points apiece.

Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez dunks against Charlotte Hornets' Nicolas Batum (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2019, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won, 131-114. (AP PhotoAaron Gash)

Kemba Walker paced Charlotte (30-36) with 25 points, and reserve Frank Kaminsky had 16.

Charlotte, which has bothered Milwaukee with its switching defense this season, opened a 14-point lead in the second quarter before the Bucks closed to 59-55 at halftime.

DiVincenzo, playing just his second game since returning from a heel injury that had sidelined him since Jan. 1, contributed six points and two rebounds while showing crowd-pleasing hustle in seven first-half minutes.

Milwaukee Bucks' Eric Bledsoe is fouled by Charlotte Hornets' Kemba Walker during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2019, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won, 131-114. (AP PhotoAaron Gash)

The Bucks allowed Charlotte to shoot 51.1% from the field (24 of 47) in the first half and managed just 40.4% shooting (19 of 47).

Milwaukee responded with a 39-point outburst in the third quarter to grab a 94-87 lead. Lopez had 18 points in the period on 5-for-6 shooting. His only miss came on a 3-point attempt.

Antetokounmpo scored the first 10 Bucks points in the fourth quarter — including back-to-back 3-pointers — and Milwaukee pulled away to beat Charlotte for the third time in four meetings this season.

Charlotte Hornets' Frank Kaminsky (44) loses control of the ball against Milwaukee Bucks' Eric Bledsoe during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2019, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoAaron Gash)

TIP-INS

Hornets: Kaminsky, the former University of Wisconsin star, was out of Charlotte's rotation the last time the Hornets were in Milwaukee in late January, but the 7-foot forward has made an impact lately. Kaminsky scored a season-high 20 points in a loss to Miami on Wednesday. "We needed some scoring punch off our bench," coach James Borrego said. "Frank has given us that, stretching the floor, driving the ball. He's playing with a lot of confidence." ... F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (left knee strain) and PG Tony Parker (rest) were not available, but C Bismack Biyombo returned after sitting out Charlotte's 112-111 win over Washington on Friday night. Charlotte started the night one game out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, in a three-way battle with Miami and Orlando. "We understand every game feels like a must-win for us," Borrego said. "We've been in the top eight in the conference 93 percent of the season. There's a will to survive and win, and I think we have that."

Bucks: G George Hill (left groin strain) missed his seventh consecutive game but could return at some point on the Bucks' three-game road swing that opens Monday in San Antonio, according to coach Mike Budenholzer. ... G Sterling Brown (right wrist soreness) has resumed shooting on a limited basis. He also has missed the last seven games. ... Veteran C Pau Gasol will continue his adjustment to the Bucks after being signed last weekend. The two-time NBA champion and six-time All-Star was released by San Antonio in time to be eligible for the postseason with Milwaukee. "It's a wide variety of experiences that he brings," Budenholzer said. "His international play, the things he has done with Spain. I think Giannis has an immense respect for him. To have guys like that in the locker room that can speak up or can say something in a timeout that's beneficial, all those things add up."

Milwaukee Bucks' Malcolm Brogdon (13) drives between Charlotte Hornets' Miles Bridges and Nicolas Batum (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2019, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won, 131-114. (AP PhotoAaron Gash)

UP NEXT

Hornets: At Houston on Monday night.

Bucks: At San Antonio on Sunday night.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)