NBA Recap: Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo Power Bucks Past Spurs

The Milwaukee Bucks secured a 121-105 win over the San Antonio Spurs, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo's dominant performance and Damian Lillard's 26 points.

The Cleveland Cavaliers emerged victorious in a highly anticipated matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, securing a 129-122 win on Wednesday. This thrilling contest was touted as a potential NBA Finals preview, with both teams boasting impressive records. Jarrett Allen led the charge for the Cavaliers, contributing 25 points to the team's effort.

The Cavaliers' win marked their 11th consecutive victory, improving their overall record to 32-4. This result also snapped the Thunder's club-record 15-game win streak, with the Western Conference leaders ultimately falling to 30-6. The Cavaliers' triumph solidified their position as the top team in the NBA, while the Thunder will look to regroup and continue their pursuit of excellence.

Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen described the intense matchup against their opponents, saying, “It felt like a battle all night. We were scoring. They were scoring, getting stops on both sides. We knew at the end of the night it was coming down to which team had more effort.” Allen's assessment of the game highlighted the back-and-forth nature of the contest, with both teams giving it their all.

Despite a subpar performance from Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell, who scored only 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting, Cleveland's big men stepped up to lead the team to victory. Allen had a standout game, topping the scorers' list while adding 12 rebounds, six assists, and three steals. He was complemented by Evan Mobley, who contributed 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. The duo's impressive performance made them the first Cavaliers teammates to each register 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a game since LeBron James and Dwyane Wade achieved the feat in 2017.

Jarrett Allen discussed the effectiveness of the two-man inside tandem he formed with Evan Mobley, saying, “We were willing to try it. We're learning to grow together. It was a learning curve. Stuff like that just doesn't happen overnight, but Evan and I are willing to work together and try to find the best thing that works.” This collaboration was a key factor in the Cavaliers' success, as they secured a hard-fought victory.

The Cavaliers' win was a testament to their depth and teamwork, with seven players scoring in double figures. Darius Garland contributed 18 points, while reserve Max Strus added 17 and Ty Jerome chipped in with 15 off the bench. Allen praised his teammates' readiness and willingness to work together, saying, “Everybody is ready to play. Everybody is willing to make the next pass to the open man and we have a bunch of shooters on this team who can knock down shots.”

The matchup between the Cavaliers and the Thunder was historic, marking only the third game in NBA history featuring two teams on win streaks of 10 or more games. The last such game occurred in 2000, when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers. Additionally, this game was only the second instance in NBA history where teams with 30 or more wins in their first 35 games faced off, with the previous occasion being a matchup between the Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1971-72 season.

The Cavaliers and the Thunder also made history by meeting while boasting impressive undefeated records against teams from the opposite conference. Oklahoma City entered the game with an 11-0 record against Eastern Conference teams, while Cleveland was 10-0 against Western Conference teams. This marked the first time since the NBA established conferences in 1970 that teams with such notable undefeated streaks against the opposite conference faced each other.

The Oklahoma City Thunder were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 31 points, while Jalen Williams added 25 points in the team's 129-122 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The two teams will face off again in a rematch on January 16.

The Cavaliers, who had a historic start to the season with 15 consecutive wins, boasted the league's top defense, which was put to the test against the Thunder, the NBA's most accurate-shooting team. Despite a slow start from Donovan Mitchell, who missed his first seven shots, the Cavaliers managed to take a 62-59 lead into halftime. Mitchell's dunk with 12 seconds remaining in the second quarter helped give his team the edge.

The third quarter saw an incredible display of offense from both teams, with each scoring 40 points – a first in the NBA this season. The game remained closely contested into the final minutes, with the Cavaliers leading 125-122 after 30 lead changes. Evan Mobley's floater with 67 seconds remaining gave the Cavaliers a 127-122 lead, and Darius Garland's layup with 27 seconds left sealed the final margin of victory.

Donovan Mitchell reflected on the significance of the win, saying, “We have the best record but in games like this you want to prove yourself, not just to everybody, but to ourselves.” Mitchell's comments highlighted the importance of the Cavaliers' victory, which demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure against a strong opponent.

Bucks Outshine Spurs Behind Antetokounmpo's Dominant Performance

The Milwaukee Bucks secured a 121-105 victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs, thanks in large part to Giannis Antetokounmpo's impressive outing. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player tallied 25 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists to lead the Bucks to their win. Antetokounmpo's performance was complemented by Damian Lillard's game-high 26 points, as well as his five rebounds and eight assists.

Victor Wembanyama, the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year, had a solid game for the Spurs, contributing 10 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and one assist. Despite Wembanyama's efforts, the Spurs were unable to overcome the Bucks' potent offense. Lillard expressed his enthusiasm for the Bucks' progress, saying, “I feel great about our team. I love what we're becoming. We've just got to continue to grow in the right direction.”

Running out of records to break. pic.twitter.com/vAkwfop0QQ

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 9, 2025

Antetokounmpo's dominant performance also earned him a place in the Bucks' record books. With his 432nd career double-double, he set a new franchise record. Antetokounmpo remained humble about his achievement, stating, “I'm just trying to play hard, trying to be consistent for my team. When you do that way, individual accolades happen, but I just want to win games.”

Tyrese Maxey propelled the Philadelphia 76ers to a 109-103 victory over the Washington Wizards, scoring a team-high 29 points. In another exciting matchup, Malik Beasley led the Detroit Pistons to a 113-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets, contributing 23 points.

The Denver Nuggets dominated the Los Angeles Clippers 126-103, despite the absence of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic due to illness. Jamal Murray stepped up to lead the Nuggets, scoring 21 points. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks secured a 112-98 win over the visiting Toronto Raptors, thanks to the impressive performances of Karl-Anthony Towns and O.G. Anunoby, who each scored 27 points.

Pascal Siakam, the Cameroonian power forward, played a crucial role in the Indiana Pacers' 129-113 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls, scoring 26 points. In another notable matchup, Deni Avdija led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 119-100 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, contributing 26 points.