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Kevin Durant (#35) of the Phoenix Suns dunks in the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, February 6, 2024. /CFP Kevin Durant (#35) of the Phoenix Suns dunks in the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, February 6, 2024. /CFP
The Phoenix Suns beat the Milwaukee Bucks 114-106 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday, securing their second straight win.
The Suns' "Big Three," Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, combined to drop 85 points in the game. Each of them had their highlights during separate periods. Booker had 11 and 16 points in the first and third quarters to keep the team together offensively; Durant and Beal got 14 and 12 points, respectively, in the fourth period to seal the deal. The two also grabbed 10 rebounds each.
Devon Booker (#1) of the Phoenix Suns drives toward the rim in the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, February 6, 2024. /CFP Devon Booker (#1) of the Phoenix Suns drives toward the rim in the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, February 6, 2024. /CFP
By contrast, Giannis Antetokounmpo lacked his best partners, Damian Lillard from the outside due to an ankle injury, and Brook Lopez from the interior because of personal reasons, in Tuesday's game. Moreover, the bad luck continued to haunt the Bucks as Khris Middleton sprained his left ankle in the first quarter. He landed on Durant's foot after shooting a 3-pointer. Durant was called for a flagrant 1 foul. Middleton exited the game and didn't come back.
As a result, Antetokounmpo became the biggest, if not the only, target in the eyes of the Suns' defenders. Durant, who can match him in size and quickness, was sent to guard him. Even if the "Greek Freak" powered his way into the paint, the second and third defenders would come immediately to keep him from going past the free throw line.
Bradley Beal (#3) of the Phoenix Suns and Malik Beasley (#5) of the Milwaukee Bucks compete for a jump ball in the game at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, February 6, 2024. /CFP Bradley Beal (#3) of the Phoenix Suns and Malik Beasley (#5) of the Milwaukee Bucks compete for a jump ball in the game at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, February 6, 2024. /CFP
Antetokounmpo shot 13-for-24 from the field to get 34 points, 10 rebounds and six assists with five turnovers. He really did everything he could on both ends of the game for his side to win. For example, when he guarded Durant, even the "Slim Reaper" missed a series of shots; when Antetokounmpo found it difficult to break in deep, instead of forcing his way toward the rim or shooting jumpers that he wasn't good at, he was calmly looking for open teammates who waited at the two corners or cut in along the baseline.
Antetokounmpo aside, the rest of the Bucks went 12-for-37 behind the arc and 12-for-24 from the paint, both too mediocre to ease the burden off his shoulders. Having played five games since Doc Rivers officially took over as their head coach, the team lost four of them and dropped from No. 2 to No. 3 in the Eastern Conference, not to mention that the New York Knicks are close behind with the same 33-18 record.
Whatever changes Rivers was supposed to bring to the Bucks, he needed to do it quickly.
Kyrie Irving (#11) of the Dallas Mavericks shoots in the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, February 6, 2024. /CFP Kyrie Irving (#11) of the Dallas Mavericks shoots in the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, February 6, 2024. /CFP
Other games on Tuesday (away teams come first):
Dallas Mavericks 119-107 Brooklyn Nets
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving again showed their offensive power as a pair. The two combined to score 71 points, 20 rebounds and 14 assists at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, securing the second consecutive win for the Mavericks. Doncic was one assist shy of a triple-double that included 35 points and 18 rebounds. Irving made 12 of his 19 jumpers to get 36 points.
DeMar DeRozan (#11) of the Chicago Bulls shoots in the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at United Center in Chicago, Illinois, February 6, 2024. /CFP DeMar DeRozan (#11) of the Chicago Bulls shoots in the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at United Center in Chicago, Illinois, February 6, 2024. /CFP
Minnesota Timberwolves 123-129 Chicago Bulls
The Bulls trailed by as many as 23 points (65-42) in Tuesday's game at United Center in Chicago, Illinois, but they outscored the Timberwolves 68-46 in the second half to drag the competition into overtime (OT). Though DeMar DeRozan missed the game-winning jumper in the fourth period, he got 10 of the Bulls' 14 points in the OT by himself, more than the whole team of the Timberwolves.
Keyonte George (R) of the Utah Jazz shoots in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 6, 2024. /CFP Keyonte George (R) of the Utah Jazz shoots in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 6, 2024. /CFP
Oklahoma City Thunder 117-124 Utah Jazz
The Thunder's young star trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams combined to score 76 points at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday night. They performed better than their Jazz counterparts, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins and Collin Sexton.
Nonetheless, the Jazz's bench squad, led by Keyonte George, Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk, made sure that the victory stayed at home with their side by outscoring the Thunder's backup unit 45-23.
Further, since the Western Conference top-two teams, the Thunder and the Timberwolves, both lost on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Clippers, who didn't play on the day, rose to lead the West.
Houston Rockets 129-132 Indiana Pacers
Orlando Magic 95-121 Miami Heat
Memphis Grizzlies113-123 New York Knicks
