The Toronto Raptors have just fallen short of the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime 104-101 despite a miracle fourth-quarter comeback amid a monster triple-double from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Raptors had trailed 95-81 with 1:09 left in the fourth term as the game was all but over before going on their wild surge in a crazy end to regulation.
Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. buried a clutch three-pointer to cap off an absurd 28-7 Toronto run down the stretch of regulation and force overtime at Scotiabank Arena.
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Thu, 05 Jan
Thursday January 5th
However the Raps just fell short in the extra period after a Grayson Allen clutch go-ahead triple put the Bucks up by three with 11.6 seconds remaining as Fred VanVleet failed to respond at the other end to seal the result.
Antetokounmpo powered the Bucks with 30 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists despite also committing 12 turnovers, and Brook Lopez put up nine points, 19 rebounds and two blocks.
VanVleet racked up 28 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists in the loss, while Trent finished with 22 points.
As courageous as their efforts were, the Raptors are now 10-3 over their last 13 games, sitting six games below .500 at 16-22 to occupy the East’s 12 seed – just three games ahead of Orlando.
The Bucks meanwhile won their second-straight game to improve to 25-13 and jump Brooklyn in the East’s No. 2 seed.
SIXERS EDGE PACERS IN OT
The Philadelphia 76ers edged out the Indiana Pacers in overtime 129-126 behind a game-high 26 points from James Harden, who stepped up in Joel Embiid’s absence, to extend their home winning streak to 11 games.
Harden shot 8-of-10 from the charity swipe, with six rebounds, eight assists and two blocks – including a crucial swat in the extra period – to lead Philly to the victory.
According to StatMuse, only LeBron James has more 25-point, five-rebound, five-assist games than Harden since 2000.
Elsewhere, Montrezl Harrell erupted in a bigger role without Embiid, racking up 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting and four blocks in 28 minutes off the bench, and Tobias Harris (19 points, 10 rebounds), De’Athony Melton (19 points, five threes, seven boards) were also crucial.
Buddy Hield buried six threes en route to 24 points with nine rebounds and six assists, but missed a potential game-tying shot in the last play of overtime.
Tyrese Haliburton was also busy with 16 points and 12 assists and Bennedict Mathurin added 19 points off the bench, but it wasn’t enough as Indiana went down, snapping a four-game winning streak.
ELSEWHERE …
In Cleveland, Caris LeVert scored 21 points, Donovan Mitchell added 20 and the Cleveland Cavaliers narrowly ousted the Phoenix Suns 90-88.
Chris Paul topscored for the Suns with 25 points plus eight assists, but they feel to a fourth-straight loss without Devin Booker including dropping seven of their last eight at 20-19 overall.
Elsewhere, the Brooklyn Nets’ winning streak ended at 12, falling to the Chicago Bulls on the road 121-112 despite 44 points from Kevin Durant.
Patrick Williams and DeMar DeRozan (22 points apiece) led all five Bulls starters in double figures in a crucial win for them to stay in touch with the East playoff race, improving to 17-21.
The Orlando Magic put away the OKC Thunder 126-115 as Paolo Banchero continued his brilliant rookie season, pouring in 25 points with eight rebounds and seven assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted a game-high 33 points, Josh Giddey added 16 points and threw one of the passes of the season, but the Thunder failed to back up their emphatic upset win over Boston on Wednesday.
In Charlotte, the Grizzlies’ big three Ja Morant (23 points, eight assists), Desmond Bane (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (17 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) came up big in a 131-107 blowout of the Hornets.
LaMelo Ball let the way for the hosts with 23 points and 12 assists and Terry Rozier chipped in 21 points.
ALL RESULTS
SUNS 88 CAVALIERS 90
THUNDER 115 MAGIC 126
PACERS 126 SIXERS 129 (OT)
SPURS 114 KNICKS 117
NETS 112 BULLS 121
ROCKETS 108 PELICANS 119
BLAZERS 106 TIMBERWOLVES 113
PISTONS – WARRIORS
HEAT – LAKERS
HAWKS – KINGS
