NBA: Gobert solid, Milwaukee wins while waiting for “Doc”

The Milwaukee Bucks, who will hire Glenn “Doc” Rivers as head coach according to several American media, triumphed over Cleveland on Wednesday in the NBA, when the Golden State Warriors played again for the first time since the death of their assistant coach Dejan Milojevic.

The day after the dismissal of their coach Adrian Griffin, the Milwaukee Bucks held on against the Cleveland Cavaliers (126-116), who nevertheless remained on a series of eight victories. Without Griffin, his former assistant Joe Prunty led the Bucks, and was able to count on the inevitable Giannis Antetokounmpo, author of a triple-double (35 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists), Damian Lillard adding 28 points.

Several American media announced an agreement on Wednesday between the Wisconsin franchise and the experienced “Doc” Rivers (62 years old), fired by the Philadelphia Sixers in the spring of 2023. Rivers, champion in 2008 with Boston, would thus take the helm. a 5th NBA franchise (after Orlando, Boston, the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia) with the mission of leading the star duo Antetokounmpo-Lillard to the NBA title.

The Golden State Warriors played again for the first time since the death last week of a heart attack of their Serbian assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, to whom they paid tribute before their home match against Atlanta. During a moving ceremony, the players wore jerseys printed with “Deki”, the technician’s nickname, and the Serbian anthem rang out in the Chase Center.

The players then placed their jerseys on Milojevic’s old place on the bench. For the rest of the season, they will wear a “DM” patch, with the initials of the ex-coach. At the end of a collective effort – 25 points for Stephen Curry, 25 for Jonathan Kuminga, 24 for Klay Thompson – the Warriors won 134 to 112.

After 52 points scored last week against the Pelicans, Devin Booker planted 46 to help Phoenix beat Dallas (132-109), showing himself to be very skillful from afar (6 out of 10), and untenable during the 3rd quarter ( 22 points). With this seventh victory in a row and a total of 26 wins for 18 defeats, the Suns are 5th in the West.

After the slap of defeat against the poorly ranked Hornets, despite 62 points from Karl-Anthony Towns, the Minnesota Timberwolves, second in the West (31-13 like OKC), bounced back by beating Washington (118-107). Jumping winger Anthony Edwards took the reins this time with 38 points, and saw his teammate Rudy Gobert achieve a solid double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds.