Portland Trail Blazers is among the best in the West, but against Milwaukee Bucks — the second best team in the East — Portland certainly didn't show it.
In an off night, the Blazers' short win streak was spoiled by a 143-100 loss to the Bucks. Milwaukee's efforts were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 33 points and added 16 rebounds for a double-double. Khris Middleton pitched in 21 points, and both Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon netted 16.
For Portland, CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard led the team with 22 points apiece. Jusuf Nurkic was the only other Blazer to score in double digits. He finished with 16 points. The loss was the largest by a conference leader since the East and West conferences were established in 1970-71.
The outcome has big consequences for both teams. The Bucks (13-4) inch closer to the Raptors, who are atop the standings with a 14-4 record after a 124-108 win over the Hawks, and the Blazers (12-6) have been passed up by the 12-5 Grizzlies.
Memphis took down San Antonio on two late free throws by Marc Gasol.
The Grizzles took advantage of the Blazers' worst loss of the season and used Mike Conley's 30-point night for its fifth consecutive win to move ahead of both Portland and Golden State.
STUDS OF THE NIGHT
The 76ers remain undefeated at home after a narrow 121-120 victory over the Pelicans. In Philadelphia's efforts to move to 10-0 at Wells Fargo Center, Joel Embiid scored a game-high 31 points. He finished with a double-double after grabbing 19 rebounds — 14 on the defensive end — and had a pair of assists and blocks by the night's end.
Despite the loss, Anthony Davis scored 12 points to put his career total just above 10,000. He became the eighth-youngest player in NBA history to reach the milestone, and accomplished the feat with the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard and Bob McAdoo — the only other players to do so at a younger age.
DUDS OF THE NIGHT
Remember the Blazers 43-point loss? Well, Portland didn't receive much help from two of its starters. Jake Layman scored made just one shot and only played nine minutes. However, with more time Al-Farouq Aminu didn't do any better. He finished with four points thanks to a 1-for-13 shooting night to go with a pair of free throws.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Trail Blazers (12-6) at Warriors — On the heels of the loss to the Bucks for the Blazers, Friday's matchup between two of the top teams in the West will be interesting to say the least. The Warriors has lost only one game at Oracle Arena, but trying to bounce back from a tough stretch. The Blazers is barely above .500 (5-4) on the road, and it'll take the efforts from all of Portland's starting five for the Blazers to get back to its winning ways.
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