Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (No.34) dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 27, 2023. Photo: VCG

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrated his confirmation as an NBA All-Star team captain by pouring in 41 points to propel the Bucks to a 141-131 NBA victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday as the Memphis Grizzlies' slide continued. 

The Bucks scored a season-high 85 first-half points and led by as many as 33 before fending off a late Pacers rally in Indianapolis, notching a third straight victory.

Indiana had sliced the deficit to eight points with just over four minutes remaining, trying to make the most of Antetokoumpo's troubles at the free-throw line by fouling him repeatedly.

The Milwaukee star, who pulled down 12 rebounds and handed out six assists, helped fend them off by making five free throws in the space of a minute and while the Pacers got the gap to seven points with 2:06 to play they would get no closer.

Jrue Holiday scored 23 points and handed out nine assists for the Bucks. 

Myles Turner led the Pacers with 24 points.

Antetokounmpo's dominant performance came a day after he was confirmed as a starter and team captain for February's All-Star game, as the top vote-getter from the Eastern Conference.

It will be the third time the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player has had the honor, after leading teams in the mid-season exhibition in 2019 and 2020.

The Grizzlies fell 111-100 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis, where the game was preceded by a moment of silence to honor the memory of Tyre Nichols - the Memphis man whose fatal beating has led to murder charges against five police officers. 

Anthony Edwards scored 25 points to lead the Timberwolves.

Ja Morant had a triple-double of 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for Memphis, but the Grizzlies finished their road trip 0-5 on the heels of an 11-game winning streak.

Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said before the game his team had been saddened by the "devastating" news emerging from Memphis about Nichols during their weeklong road trip.

"It's been hard to process," Jenkins said. "There's a lot of emotion. We can't wait to get back home to put our arms around everyone in Memphis as they struggle with the senseless loss of life."

The death of Nichols, a 29-year-old black man, who was beaten by five black officers after he was stopped on suspicion of reckless driving, sparked concern around the NBA.

The league and multiple teams as well as individual players posted statements offering condolences to Nichols' family and urging calm protest as police in Memphis released video footage on Friday of the beating.

Memphis forward Jaren Jackson Jr addressed a tweet before the game to Nichols' family saying "my teammates and I are and have been paying attention. We are with you."

"While there have been steps toward accountability in this instance, the NBA family remains committed to partnering with advocates, policymakers and law enforcement to work toward solutions to the issues we continue to face," the league said.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke about Nichols before his team's 110-105 victory over the Orlando Magic, saying "this is just crazy."

In Oklahoma City, the Thunder capitalized on the absence of Cleveland star Donovan Mitchell to surprise the Cavaliers 112-100.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points, his fourth straight game with at least 30 points as Oklahoma City fight to get themselves into the postseason play-in tournament.

AFP