The Toronto Raptors earn a home win against the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo
By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
After defeating the Indiana Pacers on Monday, the Milwaukee Bucks lost, 128-100, against the Toronto Raptors in Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday. At the bottom half of a back-to-back, Giannis Antetokounmpo was once more listed as probable with left knee patellar tendinopathy but lasted nearly 24 minutes, tallying 22 points behind 9/14 field goals, all two-pointers, eight rebounds, three assists, and one block.
“Overall, I think we played a very competitive game and did a very good job on defense. I think that Scottie did an outstanding job guarding Giannis. As we know, he’s a very, very hard matchup,” said Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic, praising Scottie Barnes and the team’s effort to slow down the Greek superstar.
His brothers, Thanasis, stayed on the bench, and Alex remained inactive for the team coached by Doc Rivers.
“I feel like at my national team, that’s where I get to play my game with full confidence and swagger. And I feel like these four years in the league have just been showing little sparks. And I think having this opportunity, I’m just trying to figure out my game as well,” mentioned Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili after scoring 15 points off the bench for the Raptors.
“I’m still a little bit away from feeling 100%, but I’m pretty happy about how today went. Like, I felt pretty good for the most part,” noted Austrian Jakob Poeltl after returning from a back injury and resurfacing in the starting lineup with a minutes restriction. He ended up with eight points and nine rebounds.
In State Farm Arena, French Zaccharie Risacher and Latvian Kristaps Porzingis netted 21 and 15 points, respectively, pushing the Atlanta Hawks to a win, 127-112, against the Orlando Magic. Czech reserve Vit Krejci threw in seven points, but Serbian Nikola Djurisic and Spanish Eli Ndiaye remained off the lineup for the team coached by Quin Snyder. The visitors featured Germans Tristan da Silva and Franz Wagner, and 20 and 18 points, and Georgian Goga Bitadze and French Noah Penda at four points, with German Moritz Wagner (left knee injury recovery) sidelined.
The undefeated defending champions, Oklahoma City Thunder, beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 126-107, in Intuit Dome. German starter Isaiah Hartenstein got ten points, with Belgian Ajay Mitchell cleared from a bilateral gluteal contusion to put in eight points off the bench. French teammate Ousmane Dieng was limited to six quiet minutes, and Serbian Nikola Topic (testicular cancer treatment) was unavailable. On the wrong end, Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic had 11 points, Croatian Ivica Zubac scored seven points, Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser reached five points, and French Nicolas Batum registered three points.
Digging their way out of a 24-point hole, the Chicago Bulls prevailed, 113-111, over the Philadelphia 76ers in United Center, behind Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic connecting a game-winning three-pointer with 3.2 seconds remaining en route to a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double. Fellow starter, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis, added ten points, but French Noa Essengue was inactive. For the Sixers, Turkish Adem Bona produced two points.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans collected their first win of the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season by edging out the Charlotte Hornets, 116-112, in Smoothie King Center. Croatian Karlo Matkovic chipped in 13 points with 6/7 two-pointers in 15 minutes. Off the bench for the visitors, French Moussa Diabate had six points, but French Tidjane Salaun sat out.
Dutch Quinten Post went for 14 points as the starting center for the Golden State Warriors in an 118-107 victory versus the Phoenix Suns in Chase Center. Jimmy Butler was limited to two points and 14 minutes due to lower back soreness.
Tuesday results
Toronto Raptors – Milwaukee Bucks 128-100
Atlanta Hawks – Orlando Magic 127-112
Chicago Bulls – Philadelphia 76ers 113-111
New Orleans Pelicans – Charlotte Hornets 116-112
Golden State Warriors – Phoenix Suns 118-107
Los Angeles Clippers – Oklahoma City Thunder 107-126
Standings Eastern Conference
1. Chicago Bulls 6-1
2. Philadelphia 76ers 5-2
3. Detroit Pistons 5-2
4. Milwaukee Bucks 5-3
5. Miami Heat 4-3
6. New York Knicks 4-3
7. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-3
8. Toronto Raptors 4-4
9. Atlanta Hawks 4-4
10. Orlando Magic 3-5
11. Charlotte Hornets 3-5
12. Boston Celtics 3-5
13. Indiana Pacers 1-6
14. Washington Wizards 1-6
15. Brooklyn Nets 0-7
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 7-0
2. San Antonio Spurs 5-1
3. Los Angeles Lakers 6-2
4. Denver Nuggets 4-2
5. Houston Rockets 4-2
6. Golden State Warriors 5-3
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 4-3
8. Portland Trail Blazers 4-3
9. Los Angeles Clippers 3-4
10. Utah Jazz 3-4
11. Memphis Grizzlies 3-5
12. Phoenix Suns 3-5
13. Sacramento Kings 2-5
14. Dallas Mavericks 2-5
15. New Orleans Pelicans 1-6
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins
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