Antetokounmpo's 42 points propel Bucks past Pelicans, Sixers edge Raptors

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 42 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to power the Milwaukee Bucks to a 128-119 NBA victory Monday over Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.

Two-time Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo dominated in the paint, making 12 of his 17 shots from the floor and 17 of his 22 free throws.

The Bucks effectively limited Williamson, the New Orleans star forward who finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Milwaukee's attention to Williamson opened the door for the Pelicans outside. Center Jonas Valanciunas drained seven three-pointers on the way to 37 points and CJ McCollum had six three-pointers and 31 points.

They helped New Orleans keep it close but it wasn't enough against a Bucks team that also had 30 points from Brook Lopez and 18 from Jrue Holiday.

Milwaukee led by as many as 18 in the fourth quarter. New Orleans cut the deficit to three on McCollum's basket with 1:32 remaining, but Holiday answered with a three-pointer and Lopez drove for a layup as Milwaukee pulled away again.

The East-leading Bucks improved to 22-8. The Pelicans, who were briefly atop the West earlier this month with a seven-game winning streak, suffered a fourth straight defeat.

"Overall there was a lot of really good defensive effort," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said, noting that the plan was to disrupt the "very unique and special" Williamson and "hopefully just change the dynamics of their team a little bit."

Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers squandered a 14-point lead early in the third quarter but held on to eke out a 104-101 overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Joel Embiid scored 28 points and pulled down 11 rebounds and Tobias Harris added 21 points as the Sixers weathered the Raptors' late surge.

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