Houston Rockets of America new signing, Victor Oladipo led the way for the Texas-based side en route to their stunning victory over Portland Trail Blazers in USA’s National Basketball Association (NBA) league, but Giannis Adetokunbo (Antetokounmpo) lost with Milwaukee Bucks.
Oladipo netted 25 points to help The Rockets fight back from a 15-point first-quarter deficit to overcome Trail Blazers 104-101, as his side exploded for 36 in the second to take a three-point lead into half-time, after scoring just 17 points in the opening quarter.
Neither side were able to pull away in a tight second half, with a missed buzzer-beater from Portland’s Anfernee Simons enough for the Rockets to clinch their fourth straight win, as Oladipo led the way for Houston with 25 points, while Portland’s Damian Lillard finished with 30 points and nine assists.
Megasportsarena.com futher gathered that, elsewhere, Mikal Bridges finished with 20 points for Phoenix Suns arrested a three-game losing streak with a 114-93 win over Golden State Warriors, even as Stephen Curry posted 27 in a losing effort.
Despite being without their primary scoring option in Devin Booker, The Suns weathered a storm from Curry to reclaim the seventh spot in the NBA’s Western Conference.
Same night in the NBA, Miami Heat started strong and finished stronger against Los Angeles Clippers, but they were left to rue some sloppy play in between as they went down 109-105; though the winning side were outscored by 21 points in the third quarter as their inconsistent season continued, with this defeat marking their fifth loss in a row.
Detroit Pistons took advantage of Anthony Davis’ absence to upset the Los Angeles Lakers 107-92, as LeBron James scored 22 points, just two of which came in the second half, while Blake Griffin top-scored for Detroit with 23.
The following day, Giannis Adetokunbo (Antetokounmpo) had 38 points, but the Nigerian-born Greece international could not save Milwaukee Bucks losing 131-126 to New Orleans Pelicans 131-126.
Toronto Raptors left their comeback too late as they went down to Sacramento Kings 126-124, while Denver Nuggets had their purple patch brought to a halt, with DeMar DeRozan scoring 35 as the San Antonio Spurs sealed a 119-109 win.
Elsewhere, Joel Embiid scored 37 for the Philadelphia 76ers in their 118-94 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Orlando Magic 116-90, the New York Knicks overcame the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-81 and the Charlotte Hornets bested the Indiana Pacers 108-105.
