KHRIS Middleton was instrumental in ensuring that Milwaukee Bucks beat Houston Rockets 126-106, passing 20 points for the eighth time in his last nine games.

Middleton returned after three games out with a knee injury and posted 23 points for the NBA champions as they stopped a two-game losing streak.

Jrue Holiday was the top scorer for Bucks with 24 points 10 assists.
Elsewhere, a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander triple-double led Oklahoma City Thunder to a 108-94 win over Denver Nuggets.
Gilgeous-Alexander secured 27 points 12 assists 11 rebounds for the second triple-double of his career.

Jaylen Brown scored 34 points for Boston Celtics as they beat Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101.
The game saw seven-time all-star Joe Johnson, 40, make a late appearance for Celtics after he joined his former club on a 10-day contract and managed to score two points.

“It’s great to be back here 20 years later. It has been amazing to me. Still surreal but a lot of fun,” Johnson said.

Rookie Franz Wagner top-scored for Orlando Magic with 25 points as they beat Atlanta Hawks 104-98 to win back-to-back games for the first time this season, while Los Angeles Clippers secured a 105-89 victory at Sacramento Kings.

(BBC Sport)