Antetokounmpo sparks Bucks in Sixers rout, Dallas on brink

LOS ANGELES: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points as the Milwaukee Bucks returned to form with a statement 117-104 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

Eastern Conference top seed favorites Milwaukee — routed 140-99 by Boston in their last outing on Thursday — bounced back in style to score an emphatic win over the third-placed Sixers.

Antetokounmpo led a balanced Milwaukee offensive display that saw five players finish in double figures in a wire-to-wire victory at Fiserv Forum.

Antetokounmpo finished with 14 rebounds and six assists in addition to his 33-point haul, while Brook Lopez (21 points), Khris Middleton (19) and Jrue Holiday (18) all contributed.

Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers scoring with 29 points while Joel Embiid added 28.

The win edged Milwaukee closer to sealing top spot in the Eastern Conference.

With four games remaining in the regular season, the Bucks lead the East on 58-22, with Boston second on 54-24.

Philadelphia remain third on 51-27 following Sunday’s loss.

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, meanwhile, said Antetokounmpo’s performance confirmed his belief that the Greek star should be the front-runner for the regular season MVP award.

“We certainly feel like Giannis is the MVP,” Budenholzer said. “What he does at both ends of the court — he does everything,” Budenholzer said. “We feel like he’s in the conversation and he should be the guy.”

In other games on Sunday, Western Conference leaders Denver — still missing Nikola Jokic — held on for a tense 112-110 win over the Golden State Warriors.

Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray combined for 55 points as the Nuggets withstood a late Warriors rally to hold on.

Warriors star Klay Thompson missed a last-gasp three-point attempt