NBA: Antetokounmpo Returns and Ends Chicago's Winning Streak
Greek basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks made a triumphant return after missing eight games due to injury in the NBA.
Antetokombo scored 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 25 minutes, leading the Bucks to a 112-103 victory over the Chicago Bulls and ending the Bulls' five-game winning streak.
The 31-year-old Greek, a two-time NBA MVP, made 10 of 15 field goals and 8 of 10 free throws, giving his team their 13th win against 19 losses.
Antetokombo had suffered a right calf injury earlier in December, which sidelined him for eight games, during which the Bucks recorded two wins and six losses. Substitute Bobby Portis added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the winning team, while Kobe White and Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic led the Chicago Bulls, who improved to 15 wins and 16 losses, with 16 points each.
In the other game, the San Antonio Spurs' eight-game winning streak came to an end with a 114-127 loss to the Utah Jazz. Despite Victor Wimpanyama's 32 points and seven rebounds, the Spurs returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench for the previous seven games due to a left calf injury.
Finnish star Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points for the Jazz, shooting 11-for-16 from the field, including five-for-six from beyond the arc. His teammate Quentin George added 28 points.
The Jazz outscored the Spurs 11-2 in the final three minutes to secure the victory, with Markkanen scoring seven points and George adding four in the closing stages. San Antonio suffered its eighth loss against 23 wins, while Utah now has 12 wins against 19 losses.