Giannis Antetokounmpo starred as the Milwaukee Bucks moved a step closer to clinching home-court advantage throughout the NBA play-offs with a 131-121 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Antetokounmpo finished with 28 points – 14 of them coming in the fourth quarter – and claimed 11 rebounds as the Bucks earned their 58th win of the season.
Eric Bledsoe also impressed for Milwaukee as he contributed 29 points, five rebounds, seven assists, five steals and two blocks in the triumph.
The @Bucks win in Brooklyn behind @EBled2 (29 PTS) & @Giannis_An34 (28 PTS)! #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/ZpSp98iqTo — NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2019
The Bucks now need just one more victory to ensure they boast the NBA's best record heading into the play-offs, an achievement that would already have been theirs if the Toronto Raptors had not won earlier on Monday.
The Raptors kept Milwaukee waiting to clinch the number one seed after downing the Orlando Magic 121-109 for their 55th win of the campaign and fourth on the trot.
Danny Green paced the Raptors with a season-best 29 points and was one of six Toronto players to score hit double figures.
Kemba Walker was in scintillating form for the Charlotte Hornets but could not prevent his side from slumping to defeat against the in-form Utah Jazz.
.@KembaWalker (47 PTS) drops a franchise-record 38 2nd half PTS for the @hornets in Utah! #Hornets30 pic.twitter.com/6BUwvKTESP — NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2019
Walker poured in 47 points – including a franchise-record 38 in the second half – but Utah still ran out 111-102 victors to earn their fifth successive win.
The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers both picked up wins to remain level-pegging in the battle for fourth spot in the Eastern Conference.
Boston saw off the Miami Heat 110-105 at TD Garden with Celtics forward Al Horford recording the second triple-double of his career – and first since 2015 – as he finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Indiana, meanwhile, overturned a 10-point deficit after the first quarter to defeat the Detroit Pistons 111-102.
Evan Turner scored 13 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out 10 assists as the Portland Trail Blazers overcame the Minnesota Timberwolves 132-122, while the New York Knicks snapped a six-game losing streak as they beat the Chicago Bulls 113-105.
Also, the Dallas Mavericks brushed aside the Philadelphia 76ers 122-102, while the Phoenix Suns earned a 122-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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