Strawther scores 20 points as short-handed Nuggets outlast slumping Bucks 102-100

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Julian Strawther scored a season-high 20 points and the short-handed Denver Nuggets built a 23-point lead before hanging on to beat the slumping Milwaukee Bucks 102-100 on Friday night.

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo injured his right calf and Denver's Aaron Gordon strained his right hamstring during the game. Antetokounmpo missed eight games and Gordon was out 19 games with similar injuries earlier this season.

After trailing 86-63 with 10½ minutes left, Milwaukee cut Denver’s lead to 99-97 on Ryan Rollins’ 3-pointer with 29.3 seconds remaining. Denver made it 101-97 when Tim Hardaway Jr. sank two free throws with 10.6 seconds left.

Rollins hit another 3 to make it 101-100 with 5.4 seconds left. Jalen Pickett got fouled with 4.5 seconds remaining and hit his first free throw, but missed the second.

Milwaukee’s Kyle Kuzma got the rebound, dribbled just beyond midcourt and fired a desperation shot that bounced off the front rim.

Rollins scored 15 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for the Bucks, who lost for the fifth time in six games. Antetokounmpo had 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for Milwaukee before leaving with 34 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo had his lower right leg wrapped in the first half and never appeared to be comfortable the rest of the way.

The Nuggets remained without three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who last played Dec. 29 as he deals with a bone bruise in his left knee. Gordon scored 13 points in the first half and didn't play the rest of the game.

Other players missing for Denver included Jamal Murray (inflammation of right hamstring and left hip), Peyton Watson (left ankle sprain and right ankle strain) and Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain). Watson had scored 35 points in a 107-97 victory at Washington one night earlier.

Hardaway had 17 points and Bruce Brown 15 for Denver.

Milwaukee’s Kevin Porter Jr. missed a second straight game with an oblique strain. The Bucks also didn’t have AJ Green or Gary Trent Jr. due to illnesses.

Nuggets: Visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.

Bucks: Host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Denver Nuggets' Jalen Pickett tries to get past Milwaukee Bucks' Ryan Rollins during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Denver Nuggets' Bruce Brown tries to get past Milwaukee Bucks' Pete Nance during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Myles Turner and Denver Nuggets' Zeke Nnaji go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Denver Nuggets' Spencer Jones tries to get past Milwaukee Bucks' Ryan Rollins during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Denver Nuggets' Zeke Nnaji looks to shoot past Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Limping and desperately trying to stretch out cramps in his arms and legs, Jannik Sinner had just gone down a break in the third set when the extreme heat rules saved him.

Play was suspended for several minutes and the roof was closed on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday afternoon, and the two-time defending Australian Open champion returned a revitalized man.

After seemingly being on the verge of an unlikely exit — one his coaches, Darren Cahill, was urging the 24-year-old Italian just to stick it out for a few more games — Sinner won five of the next six games to take the set against No. 85-ranked Eliot Spizzirri.

A 10-minute "cooling break" between the third and fourth sets followed — another allowance under the extreme heat policy — and Sinner returned for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory that highlighted a dramatic contrast of intense light and shade.

“I struggled physically today. I got lucky with the heat rule," Sinner said, agreeing that the cooler indoor conditions suited him much more than the energy-sapping heat of the first two sets. “As the time passed, I felt better and better.”

Reflecting on his condition at 3-1 down in the third set, after he'd dropped as many service games in this match as he did in the entire 2025 tournament, the No. 2-seeded Sinner said he was just trying to survive until a longer break.

“It started with the legs. Got to the arms. I was cramping a bit all over,” he said. "This is the sport. This is an area I know I need to improve.

“Tennis is a very mental game. I tried to stay as calm as possible. I’m here to fight, to play every point the best possible way.”

Spizzirri, a 24-year-old American who was making his debut in the Australian Open main draw, had never won three consecutive matches on the elite tour. Yet he converted six of his 16 breakpoint chances against Sinner. Nobody had taken more serves off the Italian here since his 2024 final against Daniil Medvedev.

In the second set, Sinner was given a rare time violation by umpire Fergus Murphy as he was preparing to serve. In a show of sportsmanship, Spizzirri intervened, approaching the umpire and saying he hadn't been ready to receive.

The American had the crowd on his side, until Sinner's movement really became hampered.

But with the glare gone, the temperature easing across the third and fourth sets and the radiated heat from the court plummeting, Sinner regained his confidence.

He'll next play fellow Italian Luciano Darderi, who beat No. 15 Karen Khachanov 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Three Italian men advanced to the round of 16, with No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti beating Tomas Machac 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in a match on John Cain Arena that also had to be briefly halted — in the fifth set — to close the roof.

No. 8 Ben Shelton beat Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Margaret Court Arena and was delighted the roof was closed even before he stepped on court.

“Having the roof here closed today just amplified the noise,” Shelton told the crowd. “If this roof was open today, I don’t know if I’d be able to go the distance.”

Telling the crowd to stay cool, he added: “I’m not done yet. I hope you guys come back in two days time, because I’ve still got a lot to prove here.”

Play was suspended on outside courts for at least three hours from the mid-afternoon Saturday under the extreme heat rules at the Australian Open.

The temperature was around 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) when the tournament's so-called heat scale hit a maximum of 5. The forecast was for a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

An earlier start than usual on Day 7 and hot weather were no worries for defending champion Madison Keys and her fellow American Jessica Pegula in their morning matches. The ninth-seeded Keys beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-3 in the opening match on Rod Laver Aren, while sixth-seeded Pegula defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2 in the first match at Margaret Court Arena.

Next up for the two Americans, and podcast pals, is a fourth-round encounter against each other.

There was an all-American encounter on Saturday as well — fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova beat Peyton Stearns 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the Round of 16.

The night session at Rod Laver Arena featured 10-time champion Novak Djokovic against Botic van de Zandschulp and Naomi Osaka against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis.

Eliot Spizzirri of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Jannik Sinner of Italy during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Jannik Sinner of Italy receives treatment from trainers during his third round match against Eliot Spizzirri of the U.S.at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Jannik Sinner of Italy rests at his coaching box during his third round match against Eliot Spizzirri of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Jannik Sinner of Italy takes a drink during his third round match against Eliot Spizzirri of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. plays a backhand return to compatriot Peyton Stearns during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Jessica Pegula, left, of the U.S. is congratulated by Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia following their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Madison Keys, left, of the U.S. is congratulated by Karolina Pliskova, right, of the Czech Republic following their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Madison Keys of the U.S. waves after defeating Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Naomi Osaka of Japan walks onto court for her second round match against Sorana Cirstea of Romaniaat the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Ben Shelton of the U.S. reacts after defeating Dane Sweeny of Australia during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia serves to Jessica Pegula of the U.S. during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Jessica Pegula of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Madison Keys of the U.S. plays a forehand return to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)