The Milwaukee Bucks’ seven-game winning streak ended with a defeat by the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, while the Los Angeles Lakers were thrashed by the Miami Heat.
The Bucks had won their past four games in the NBA and three in the NBA Cup – but were unable to maintain an early 10-point lead as they fell 104-119 in Milwaukee.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points while team-mate Damian Lillard added 25, but Jalen Johnson and De’Andre Hunter hit back with 23 and 20 points respectively as Atlanta recorded a fifth-straight victory.
Next up for the Bucks is a trip to reigning NBA champions the Boston Celtics, while the Hawks will face the LA Lakers, who suffered their heaviest defeat of the season in a 134-93 loss at the Miami Heat.
Miami guard Tyler Herro starred with 31 points, 21 of them coming in the third quarter. He finished with nine of the Heat’s franchise record-equalling 24 three-pointers.
After racing into a 17-point lead at half-time, the Heat set a franchise record with 42 assists while delivering a fresh blow to a faltering Lakers side.
LeBron James and his team-mates have lost six of their past eight matches, a run that has included elimination from the NBA Cup.
This defeat, two days on from a 29-point defeat by the Minnesota Timberwolves, sees LA’s NBA record slip to 12 wins and 10 defeats.
Lakers first-year coach JJ Redick described the performance as “embarrassing” and criticised what he called a lack of fight and professionalism by his players.
Elsewhere, NBA champions the Boston Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons 130-120 despite the absence of Jayson Tatum, while the Orlando Magic bounced back from a heavy loss to the New York Knicks with a 106-102 victory over the injury-hit 76ers in Philadelphia.
The LA Clippers lost to the Timberwolves for a second time in the space of five days (80-108), while the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Indiana Pacers 99-90.
