Starting 5: Bucks, Wolves get key wins

In a flash, Ant and the Wolves turned a halftime deficit into the highest-scoring half of the season.

THE LINEUP 🏀
Nov. 8, 2024 | What’s inside today’s edition?
Bucks Bounce Back: Giannis & Dame’s milestone night puts Milwaukee back on track
Statement Ws: A balanced Spurs’ attack & a Minnesota tidal wave stamped two dubs
Big-Stage Battles: Durant, Luka, LeBron & PG take center stage tonight on ESPN
Friday Fire: A Cavs-Dubs Finals rematch highlights an 11-game slate on League Pass
Cup Countdown: A preview of East Group B, including two of last year’s semifinalists
BUT FIRST … ⏰
A Friday full of hoops…

Friday delivers a packed slate with 13 games, featuring an ESPN doubleheader and 11 matchups on League Pass.
On ESPN, Kevin Durant and the Suns visit Luka Dončić and the Mavs (7:30 ET), followed by LeBron James and the Lakers hosting Paul George and the Sixers (10 ET).
On League Pass, fans can catch a handful of marquee matchups highlighted by two Finals rematches, with the Cavs hosting the Warriors (7:30 ET), and the Heat facing the Nuggets (9 ET).
1. DEER DUO GOES OFF, BUCKS BOUNCE BACK

The Bucks entered Thursday on a six-game skid. But their last two losses came against the unbeaten Cavaliers by a total of three points, and head coach Doc Rivers said his team was close to turning a corner.
“We believe we’re a really good basketball team that has
“The worry is outside the building, I guarantee you that.
One game later, Milwaukee — led by its superstar duo — put it all together for their first win since Oct. 23.
Bucks 123, Jazz 100: Damian Lillard (34 pts, 7 ast, 4 stl, 4 3s) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (31 pts, 16 reb) combined for 65 points and fueled a 31-16 Bucks’ 3rd-quarter as the Deer pulled away in the 2nd half for their second win of the season. | Recap

All-Time Deer Duos: It’s Giannis and
Takeover Time: Antetokounmpo (11 pts, 4-8 FG) and Lillard (11
Star Power: In total, Giannis and Dame were responsible for 88
Dame On Ending The Skid: “Getting off to a rough start, it’s
Jazz Leaders: Jordan Clarkson (18 pts, 4 3s) led five Utah
2. WOLVES’ 2ND-HALF STORM + SPURS’ BALANCE LEAD TO DUBS

Timberwolves 135, Bulls 119: After entering the break trailing 65-56, Anthony Edwards (33 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast, 5 3s) and the Wolves erupted for a season-high 79 points in the 2nd half, and outscored Chicago 45-24 in the 4th quarter to improve to 5-3. | Recap 
Not So Minny Finish: The Wolves’ 45 4th-quarter points are the
Bulls’ Buckets: Nikola Vučević (25 pts, 5 reb, 3 3s) and Coby

Spurs 118, Blazers 105: Eight Spurs scored in double figures – led by 17 points apiece from Keldon Johnson and Malaki Branham – as San Antonio posted season-highs of 35 assists and 44 made baskets to overcome 21-point nights from Portland’s Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton. | Recap
Wemby 🤝 Dream: Victor Wembanyama (12 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast, 4 stl,
Doing Wemby Things: Victor comes out of nowhere to protect the
Welcome Back: Shaedon Sharpe had 13 points in 20 minutes off

3. ESPN DOUBLEHEADER: STARS TAKE CENTER STAGE

13 games get underway Friday, highlighted by a star-studded doubleheader on ESPN featuring four 2024 Playoff teams. 
Suns at Mavericks (7:30 ET): Riding a six-game win streak, will Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Suns stay hot when they visit Luka Dončić and the 5-3 Mavs?
Here Come The Suns: The Suns’ 7-1 record is their best start
Stars & Stops: In their past six games, Durant (27.8) and
Luka Heating Up? In Dallas’ loss to Phoenix in October, Dončić

76ers at Lakers (10 ET): After a 3-0 start, LeBron James and the Lakers (4-4) have dropped four of their last five games. Will they get back on track against Paul George and the 76ers?
PG’s Back: In his second game with Philly on Wednesday, George
Home-Court Advantage: The Lakers are 3-0 this season at
Leading Scorers’ Status: While Anthony Davis — who leads the
4. UNBEATEN CAVS, ROAD WARRIORS CLASH ON LEAGUE PASS

Meeting in four straight NBA Finals (2015-2018) will forever link the Warriors and Cavaliers in basketball history. Although the rosters from their title bouts have changed, they each stand as one of the league’s top teams nearly three weeks into the 2024-25 regular season.
The Cavaliers are 9-0 — their best start in franchise history
On Friday, the two sides will face off on League Pass (7:30 ET) in a battle of strength versus strength as the Cavs’ No. 1 offense (123.2 ppg) takes on Golden State’s No. 2 defense (105.3 oppg) in Cleveland.
Statistical Heavyweights: The Warriors and Cavs are No. 1 and

Potent Cavs: In nine
Cleveland Can’t Miss: The Cavs are the only team in the NBA
How rare are their shooting numbers? In the shot-clock era
But the Warriors have allowed just one opponent to shoot over
X-Factors From Deep: Steph Curry (21.2 ppg) and Donovan

10 more games tip off on League Pass throughout the night, highlighted by another Finals rematch between the Nuggets and Heat (9 ET) after OKC looks to bounce back from its first loss of the season against the Rockets (8 ET).
Pacers at Hornets (7 ET
Hawks at Pistons (7 ET
Pelicans at Magic (7 ET
Nets at Celtics (7:30 ET
Bucks at Knicks (7:30 ET
Wizards at Grizzlies (8 ET
Blazers at Wolves (9 ET
Clippers at Kings (10 ET
5. EMIRATES NBA CUP COUNTDOWN: EAST GROUP B PREVIEW

The Emirates NBA Cup 2024 tips off in just four days, with Group Play opening on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Our countdown previewing every group in the competition began with Group A in the East and West and continues today with East Group B, which includes two teams that advanced to the semifinals of the inaugural in-season competition last season.
Here are the five teams in the group, ranked in order of win percentage in head-to-head matchups from last season against the other teams within the group.
Indiana Pacers: 12-4 (.750)
Miami Heat: 9-5 (.643)
Toronto Raptors: 6-8 (.429)
Detroit Pistons: 2-13 (.133)

The full 10-game Group Play schedule is above. Here are three matchups to circle: 
Heat at Pacers (Nov. 15, 7 ET, League Pass): Indy and Miami
Pacers at Bucks (Nov. 22, 7:30 ET, ESPN): The Pacers ended the
Bucks at Heat (Nov 26, 7:30 ET, TNT): From 2020-23, either the