Thanks to this victory, the reigning champions returned to the positive (9 wins, 8 losses) after a very disappointing start to the season.

But it was above all Giannis Antetokounmpo who impressed, signing a "double-double-double" with 32 points and 20 rebounds.

Very authoritarian and walking in the defense of Orlando, the "Greek Freak" also healed his statistical line, with 5 assists, 2 interceptions and 3 blocks.

The MVP (best player) of the regular season in 2019 and 2020 became the first player with 30 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists in less than 35 minutes since 1959.

Bobby Portis also stood out, scoring 24 points (with a nice 6/7 at 3 pts), his best score of the season, and taking 15 rebounds.

The magic of the Wizards, the rhythm of Jazz

The Bucks still have a way to go before regaining the top of the standings in the East, where Washington faced the Miami Heat, for a rematch after a loss in Florida on Thursday.

Led for a good part of the meeting, the Wizards made a nice comeback by going back 16 points in the third quarter.

Three straight three-pointers, including two from Spencer Dinwiddie, gave Washington's franchise three points in the dying minutes, sealing the victory.

Miami, which remained on four wins in a row, will not be unworthy, like Jimmy Butler (29 pts) and Tyler Herro (20 pts), but the Wizards are still as successful, rising to second place in the Eastern Conference, tied with the Chicago Bulls (11 wins, 5 losses), one victory behind the Brooklyn Nets (12-5).

The Wizards were carried by Bradley Beal (21 pts, 9 assists), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (16 pts) and Spencer Dinwiddie (16 pts), Montrezl Harrell scoring 13 points off the bench.

Bradley Beal scores a basket against the Charlotte Hornets, during their NBA game, November 17, 2021 to Charlotte Jared C. Tilton GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP / Archives

In the West, Utah Jazz confirmed their third place, taking the upper hand over the Sacramento Kings (105-123).

Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Mike Conley was decisive with 17 points.

Rudy Gobert recorded another double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds.

The French pivot of the Utah Jazz, Rudi Gobert, tries to block the shot of Harrison Barnes of the Sacramento Kings, during their NBA game, November 20, 2021 in Sacramento Lachlan Cunningham GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

In the rest of the NBA night, the Portland Trail Blazers of Damian Lillard (39 pts) won against the Philadelphia Sixers, still deprived of Joel Embiid (118-111), and the Boston Celtics dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder , with a Jayson Tatum at 33 points and a Dennis Schroder at 29 points.

The Knicks meanwhile inflicted a 14th straight loss to the Houston Rockets (106-99), thanks in particular to 19 points from Evan Fournier (5 out of 10 to three points).

© 2021 AFP