NBA

NBA roundup: Giannis dominates again as Bucks defeat Pacers

Even with Milwaukee seemingly out of the playoff race, the Greek star continues to play at an elite level and post remarkable numbers.

Benny Sieu

Alberto Clemente Jennifer Bubel

Update: Mar 16th, 2026 08:03 EDT

Another night in the NBA brought seven games and a growing sense that the most important part of the season is almost here. With just over a month remaining before the playoffs (set to begin on April 18), the countdown has officially begun.

As the regular season winds down, the league’s nightly drama continues. And once again, Giannis Antetokounmpo took center stage.

Despite the challenges facing his team, and the fact that the Milwaukee Bucks have little left to play for beyond a possible play-in spot, the Greek superstar continues to deliver outstanding performances. Night after night he puts up elite numbers, reminding everyone why he remains one of the best players in the NBA and arguably one of the greatest of his generation. All of this comes as his long-term future in Milwaukee remains uncertain.

Elsewhere in the league, there were wins for teams like the Toronto Raptors and the Dallas Mavericks. Here’s a quick recap of the night around the NBA.

NBA Roundup

Oklahoma City Thunder beat Minnesota Timberwolves, 116 – 103

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped preserve Oklahoma City’s impressive record as the defending contenders showed their strength once again.

Dallas Mavericks beat Cleveland Cavaliers, 120 – 130

The Mavericks pulled off a surprise victory against a sluggish Cavaliers squad in a game where Dallas capitalized on Cleveland’s lack of intensity.

Toronto Raptors beat Detroit Pistons, 119 – 108

Toronto earned a notable win over the powerful Pistons, continuing their push late in the season.

Milwaukee Bucks beat Indiana Pacers, 134 – 123

Antetokounmpo, who finished the game dealing with some discomfort in one leg, led Milwaukee to victory with another spectacular performance.

The Greek star recorded 31 points, 14 rebounds (six offensive), and eight assists, carrying the Bucks in a game where they realistically have little left to fight for except a slim chance at a play-in spot.

For the Pacers, Aaron Nesmith scored 32 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the defeat.

Philadelphia 76ers beat Portland Trail Blazers, 109 – 103

The Sixers defeated Portland thanks largely to a 31-point performance from Quentin Grimes.

Meanwhile, Joel Embiid missed his ninth straight game due to ongoing knee problems.

For Portland, Deni Avdija posted 25 points, six rebounds, and nine assists, but the effort wasn’t enough to swing the result.

New York Knicks beat Golden State Warriors, 110 – 107

The Knicks staged a dramatic comeback at Madison Square Garden, overcoming a 21-point deficit to defeat a heavily depleted Warriors squad missing eight players, including Stephen Curry. Jalen Brunson led the rally with 30 points.

Golden State had surged ahead early and even led by 21 in the second quarter, fueled in part by a breakout performance from Quinten Post, who scored a career-high 22 points.

But New York gradually clawed back into the game. Contributions from OG Anunoby, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson helped narrow the gap before halftime. Later, Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds to help New York secure the win.

Despite the loss, Golden State still received strong performances from Brandin Podziemski (25 points), Gui Santos (20), and Gary Payton II (19).

The Knicks improved to 44-25, holding third place in the Eastern Conference behind Detroit and Boston. The Warriors fell to 32-35, remaining in play-in territory with limited postseason hopes.

Sacramento Kings beat Utah Jazz, 116 – 111

Veteran star DeMar DeRozan turned back the clock with a sensational performance. He finished with 41 points, four rebounds, 11 assists, and three steals, shooting 11-for-21 from the field and 18-for-21 from the free-throw line to lead Sacramento to victory.

For Utah, Cody Williams scored 34 points in the losing effort.