Los Angeles (AFP)

NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was uncompromising in setting a personal best of 15 assists and securing his second "triple-double" of the season on Thursday in a big-game win. (137-129) Milwaukee Bucks vs. Portland Trail Blazers.

The Greek also scored 24 points and 19 rebounds, while his teammate Eric Bledsoe scored 30 points, allowing Milwaukee to lead throughout the match.

This sixth consecutive win propels the Bucks to the Eastern Conference with 12 wins and three losses. His pursuers, Boston then Miami, have as many defeats, but fewer victories (11 and 10 respectively).

In the wake of a successful trip to the Atlanta Hawks, the 10th away game in the first 14 of their season, the Bucks started a series of 12 home games.

This is the 16th triple-double (three statistics to 10 or more) of Antetokounmpo's career, acquired for him from the third quarter, after a more complicated start of the match.

"I could not go on the offensive, the shots did not come in and there were a lot of people, but after that I managed to find some teammates who were well placed to shoot the shots. so I made 15 assists, I did half the job and my teammates did the rest, "said the Greek winger from Milwaukee.

This performance was not lost on Portland winger Carmelo Anthony, who was playing his second game with the Trail Blazers after a year of absence.

"Giannis is Giannis, he's a tough guy (...) Even outside of his triple doubles, when we look at what he did, we say," Oh, he made a hell of a match. " recognized Anthony.

- Ingram decisive against the Suns -

Still, "I think tonight we did a good job, most of the time we were on him, we put a lot of pressure on him, but after he found his teammates, they chained a few baskets to three. points, and the match was launched "for them," he added.

The Trail Blazers were not unworthy, despite the absence of their playmaker, Damien Lillard, and Zach Collins and Hassan Whiteside.

CJ McCollum scored 37 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Six other Portland players also recorded double-digit statistics, including Kent Bazemore (22 pts) and Carmelo Anthony (18 pts).

But that will not have been enough and the Trail Blazers continue to dive in the Western Conference standings: they are now penultimate with only 5 wins in 16 games.

In the other game of the night, Phoenix won for the third consecutive time on the floor of New Orleans (124-121). This is the third straight setback for the Suns.

Despite an advantage after the first half, New Orleans could not resist the 28 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists of Brandon Ingram, who has been decisive in the money time.

© 2019 AFP