Basketball

Boston Celtics (26-12, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (22-16, fourth in the Western Conference) Dallas; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum meet when Dallas hosts Boston.

Milwaukee Bucks (24-13, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (16-21, 12th in the Eastern Conference) Toronto; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

Los Angeles Clippers (21-18, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (24-13, first in the Western Conference) Denver; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles aims to end its three-game slide with a win over Denver.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 55 points in a return from a one-game absence and the Milwaukee Bucks beat Washington 123-113 on Tuesday night, snapping the Wizards’ five-game winning streak.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans are bracing for another extended stint without forward Zion Williamson. The Pelicans announced Tuesday that Williamson has a strained right hamstring and will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

Donovan Mitchell sent the best game of his career to overtime with an incredible play. A little too incredible, the NBA said.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacque Vaughn was viewed as such a temporary solution in Brooklyn that his successor was already assumed before he coached one game. That was two months ago.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Hornets guard Kelly Oubre Jr. will undergo surgery Thursday to repair a torn ligament in his left hand.

TORONTO — A day after Precious Achiuwa returned from injury, he lamented a couple of alley-oops thrown to him from Scottie Barnes. Achiuwa had 11 points and three blocks in an energetic 12 minutes in the Toronto Raptors' 122-114 loss in Indiana.

Only 18 months ago, the Phoenix Suns were on the brink. They held a 2-0 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals. They were two wins away from the parade. Chris Paul was finally going to get his ring.