Lakers, Bucks, Bulls and Suns put on a show

The Los Angeles Lakers, who swept the Houston Rockets with a triple-double by LeBron James, the Milwaukee Bucks, who defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, the Chicago Bulls, with a 23-point comeback against the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Phoenix Suns, winners in Kevin Durant’s return to Oklahoma City, illuminated an NBA day in which the Dallas Mavericks fell to the Atlanta Hawks and remain mired in a deep crisis.

ROCKETS 109 – LAKERS 134

The Lakers swept the last-place Houston Rockets 134-109 to move into eighth place in the West and remain on track with one week remaining in the regular season.

Anthony Davis recorded 41 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, while LeBron James sealed a triple-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. The Angelinos have five wins in their last six games.

BUCKS 117 – 76ERS 104

The Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo who scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, vindicated their lead in the East with a resounding victory over the third in the conference, the 76ers.

Giannis, who also offered 6 assists and 3 blocks, was supported by Brook Lopez, with 21 points and 6 rebounds; Khris Middleton, with 19 points, 3 rebounds and 9 assists; and Jrue Holiday, with 18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals.

For the visitors, Tyrese Maxey added 29 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, while Cameroon’s Joel Embiid contributed 28 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.

BULLS 128 – GRIZZLIES 107

In one of their best games of the season, Chicago Bulls came back from a 23-point deficit against Ja Morant’s Grizzlies and, with an exhibition by Zach LaVine (36 points) and DeMar DeRozan (31), took a giant step towards the East play-in.

After trailing 61-38 in the second half, the Bulls sealed a 90-46 demolition of the Grizzlies, the second-best team in the Western Conference.

THUNDER 118 – SUNS 128

In his return to Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant dominated with 35 points in the Suns’ win over a Thunder that maintains a one-game lead over the Mavericks.

Durant was 13-of-21 shooting and was supported by Devin Booker’s 22 points and DeAndre Ayton’s 19 points and 11 rebounds.