The Bucks beat the Jazz without Giannis and the Heat are victorious in Mexico

First modification: 18/12/2022 – 09:12Last modification: 18/12/2022 – 09:10

Milwaukee (United States) (AFP) – Forward Bobby Portis finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds in place of Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Utah Jazz 123-97 on Saturday in the NBA.

The Bucks also played without Khris Middleton, due to a sore right knee.

Antetokounmpo sat out with a sore left knee, adding his fifth game out this season.

Portis was 9 of 16 from the field and hit two 3-pointers. Jrue Holiday added 21 points and eight assists and Cuban-American center Brook Lopez had 18 points and eight sacks to help the Bucks bounce back from a 41-point loss at Memphis last Thursday.

Rookie Marjon Beauchamp added 18 points in 19 minutes coming off the bench for Milwaukee.

Milwaukee has now improved to 14-3 at home and 21-8 overall.

Leonard overwhelmed by the Clippers

In Los Angeles, star Kawhi Leonard shook off a slow start to score a season-high 31 points and lead the Clippers to a 102-93 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Leonard missed all four of his shots in the first quarter, but found his rhythm to lead the Clippers who were without the injured Paul George, Ivica Zubac, Reggie Jackson and Norman Powell.

The declining Wizards led by as many as 15 points in the first half and were up by three entering the fourth quarter.

But the Clippers outscored them 30-18 in the final period to concede the capital city’s ninth straight loss.

“Early in the first quarter I felt like I hit a lot of my shots that I usually take,” Leonard said. “I just kept being aggressive. My teammates kept giving me the ball, they trusted me to shoot.”

Kristaps Porzingis led Washington with 19 points.

On the other hand, the Miami Heat pounced late to beat the San Antonio Spurs 111-101 in Mexico City, where commissioner Adam Silver discussed the possibility of NBA expansion south of the border.

More than 20,000 spectators filled the arena in Mexico City, where the Spurs took the lead with a 19-0 run in the first quarter.

The young Spurs team led by three at halftime and led by four going into the fourth period, but Miami’s experience and effective defense paid off in a 31-17 fourth quarter lead for the win.

Jimmy Butler had 26 points and five rebounds, center Bam Adebayo added 22 points and 13 rebounds and Tyler Herro had 21 points for Miami, which won its fourth straight and improved to 16-15.

Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 22 points, Devin Vassell added 18 and the Spurs were buoyed by the return of giant Jakob Poeltl, who missed several weeks with a right knee injury.

– Results of Saturday in the NBA:

LA Clippers a Washington 102-93

Milwaukee at Utah 123-97

Miami a San Antonio 111-101

Portland a Houston 107-95

Oklahoma City a Memphis 115-109

Cleveland at Dallas 100-99 (in overtime)

Phoenix a New Orleans 118-114

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© 2022 AFP