AROUND THE NBA Thursday’s games

Bulls 91, Hawks 86

CHICAGO

Lauri Markkanen scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half, including a key 3-pointer with 48.5 seconds left, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Atlanta Hawks for their first win of the season. Markkanen also grabbed 13 rebounds, leading a dominant rebounding effort for Chicago. Robin Lopez had 16 points and eight rebounds and reserve David Nwaba finished with 15 points and 11 boards, helping the Bulls to a whopping 62-40 advantage on the glass. Marco Belinelli made five 3-pointers on his way to 23 points for Atlanta, which closed out a 1-4 trip — the franchise’s longest road trip to begin a season. Kent Bazemore scored 16 points and Mike Muscala finished with 14 points and 10 boards. Belinelli made a 3 to give Atlanta an 86-85 lead with about 1:50 left, but the Hawks never scored again. Lopez passed to Justin Holiday for a reverse layup and Jerian Grant found Markkanen for his big 3 in the final minute, making it 90-86. Grant added a free throw in the final seconds, helping Chicago close it out.

Celtics 96 Bucks 89

MILWAUKEE

Al Horford had 27 points and nine rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks. Kyrie Irving added 24 points and seven assists for Boston, which avenged a loss to Milwaukee in Boston earlier this month. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points for Milwaukee. Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon added 15 apiece. Antetokounmpo, who came into the game leading the league with nearly 37 points per game, scored just 11 in the first half before matching that total in the third quarter as the Bucks built a seven-point lead midway through the period. The Celtics grabbed control in the fourth, building a 12-point lead midway through the period before Tony Snell sank back-to-back 3-pointers, bringing the capacity crowd to its feet and forcing a timeout. The Celtics quickly built the lead back to double digits, but the Bucks briefly rallied again. Brogdon’s layup brought the Bucks within five points with just under 4 minutes remaining but Milwaukee would get no closer. The Celtics jumped out to a 10-point lead early in the first quarter and led 28-23 after the period, led by Irving’s nine points. The Bucks led 44-43 at the half on a late running dunk by Middleton. Irving had 16 first-half points.

Grizzlies 96, Mavericks 91

MEMPHIS, TENN.

Marc Gasol had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Mike Conley added 22 points and the Memphis Grizzlies held on for a victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Memphis held a 20-point lead in the third quarter, but the Mavericks cut into the lead behind Wesley Matthews, who finished with 18 points and made four 3-pointers in the period. A fourth-quarter push gave the Mavericks an 86-84 lead with 3:56 left when J.J. Barea converted three free throws, capping an 18-8 run to open the quarter. That was the last lead for Dallas, as Conley scored the next five points and had nine of the Grizzlies’ final 10. Harrison Barnes led Dallas with 22 points. Dirk Nowitzki added 14. The Grizzlies were seeking revenge on the second night of a back-to-back after losing 103-94 in Dallas on Wednesday.

Associated Press