NEW YORK (AFP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered another dominant performance with 32 points as the Milwaukee Bucks extended their unbeaten start to the season with a 116-91 rout of the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
Milwaukee, the only undefeated team left in the National Basketball Association, improved to 7-0 courtesy of an impressive all-round offensive effort against an outgunned Pistons team.
Antetokounmpo hauled down 12 rebounds and provided four assists with five steals while Jrue Holiday provided offensive support with a 26-point salvo that included four three-pointers.
The outcome at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum was settled well before the end, with the Bucks taking a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter and increasing their advantage to 33 points late in the game.
Jordan Nwora (12 points), Brook Lopez (11) and Bobby Portis (10) also cracked double figures for Milwaukee while Saddiq Bey led the Detroit scorers with 22 points.
The Pistons fell to 2-7 with the defeat.
In other games, Darius Garland returned from a five-game injury absence to produce a sparkling performance as Cleveland notched their sixth straight win with a thrilling 114-113 overtime victory over the Boston Celtics.
Garland poured in 29 points with 12 assists and five rebounds while Donovan Mitchell once again underscored his value to the Cavs with a 25-point performance which included 11 points in the closing minutes of regulation and overtime.
Garland had not played since suffering a lacerated eyelid during Cleveland’s season-opening defeat to Toronto.
But the 22-year-old rising star showed no lingering after-effects from the injury as he teamed with Mitchell on Wednesday to clinch a victory which was confirmed when Boston’s Jaylen Brown missed a two-pointer on the buzzer.
“We came out really aggressive in the last five minutes and really happy we got the win,” said Garland after a victory that takes Cleveland to 6-1.
“After the first shot went through I felt good, the eye didn’t affect me or anything. It’s good to be back.”
Garland, meanwhile, paid tribute to Mitchell, who joined the Cavs in a blockbuster trade from Utah in September.
“He brings a lot to our team,” Garland said.
