Giannis Antetokounmpo made a triumphant return to the court after a six-game absence, scoring 23 points in just 24 minutes to propel the Milwaukee Bucks to a 116-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The 30-year-old forward had been sidelined due to knee pain and a strained left calf, which also kept him out of the All-Star weekend.

Despite limited minutes, Antetokounmpo's impact was undeniable, as he also grabbed 8 rebounds. The Bucks were without Bobby Portis Jr., who is serving a 25-game suspension for a failed drug test. Brook Lopez contributed 22 points, while Damian Lillard and Taurean Prince added 15 and 14 points, respectively.

In other NBA action, Nikola Jokic showcased his dominance with 29 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 assists as the Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to nine games with a 129-115 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Jamal Murray led the scoring with 34 points.

Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics continued their strong season with a 124-104 road victory against the Philadelphia 76ers. Jayson Tatum recorded a triple-double, and Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 28 points. The defending champions remain second in the Eastern Conference.

In another standout performance, LeBron James scored 40 points for the second time since turning 40, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 110-102 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Austin Reaves added 32 points and 7 assists as the Lakers bounced back from a recent loss to the Hornets.