The Milwaukee Bucks had lost four straight games headed into Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Giannis Antetokounmpo made sure there wouldn't be a fifth straight loss for the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo scored 43 points and grabbed 20 rebounds for Milwaukee. That was his second consecutive 40/20 game. That's the first time since Moses Malone in 1982 that a player has recorded at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in consecutive games.

Antetokounmpo also dished out five assists, while shooting 14-of-23 from the field. This was Antetokounmpo's second time he's record at least 40 points, 20 rebounds and five assists, while shooting at least 60% from the floor. He joined Charles Barkley as the only players to achieve those numbers in multiple games over the last 45 years. Antetokounmpo is also one of only seven players with multiple such games in NBA history.

Viewership for the NBA's Christmas Day slate was up 5% from last season, with the five games averaging a 1.8 rating with 4.31 million viewers.

The Bucks-Celtics matchup recorded the highest viewership in the day with 6.08 million viewers and a 2.25 rating. Viewership was up 17% from last year's equivalent game, with the Celtics win also representing the first time since 1995 that the most-watched Christmas Day did not feature Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or LeBron James. 

Three out of the five games registered a double-digit increase in viewership. The Grizzlies-Warriors and Lakers-Mavs were both down in ratings from their equivalent time slots last season.

With an average of 1.9 and 4.07 million viewers, the Sixers-Knicks was the most-watched Noon ET Christmas Day game since 2011.

The Suns-Nuggets was also the most-watched late-night Christmas game since 2015. 

Marc Lasry is exploring a sale of his stake in the Milwaukee Bucks, sources tell Marc Stein of Substack.

Lasry could sell his shares to Wesley Edens.

Mat Ishbia was in talks to buy Lasry's stake before he pivoted to buying the Phoenix Suns from Robert Sarver.

The Bucks are valued at $2.3 billion while they were purchased by Lasry and Edens in April 2014 for $550 million. The Suns were recently valued at $2.7 billion, but sold at a valuation of $4 billion.

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The top two teams in the league, the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, playing during the late afternoon affair, and three of the top Western Conference teams, the Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans also play – with the latter two taking on each other during the final glorious game of the night.

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Joe Ingles is targeting his return from a torn ACL on Monday against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Ingles is expected to participate in a final 5-on-5 workout on Saturday.

Ingles signed with the Milwaukee Bucks this past offseason.

The Phoenix Suns recently engaged in three-team trade talks that would have resulted in Jae Crowder to the Milwaukee Bucks, four second round picks from the Bucks and players to the Houston Rockets, and Eric Gordon and/or Kenyon Martin Jr. to the Suns.

The hold up in the trade was that the Rockets are seeking a first round pick each for Gordon and Martin rather than four second rounders. The Rockets have received interest on Gordon from several contending teams. Houston has been less willing to entertain trading Martin, who is having a breakout third season.

The Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks are also interested in Crowder. 

Joe Ingles has yet to make his Milwaukee Bucks debut after signing with the team over the summer. But Ingles is closing in on a return, according to Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer.

“I think it’s fair to say he’s getting close. I mean, if you’re playing with our G League group and you’re playing five on five and live action — but again, you know, you’ve got to get to a conditioning level to be ready to play in an NBA game," Budenholzer said. "You’ve got to get kind of, I would say, a significant number of reps of just playing and doing things and building up just everything that it takes to go into playing an NBA game. So, hopefully, somewhere there is an answer for you."

Ingles tore his left ACL on January 30, while playing for the Utah Jazz. Ingles was then traded at the 2022 trade deadline to the Portland Trail Blazers. The eight-year NBA veteran signed a one-year deal with the Bucks in July.

Cam Reddish recently told reporters he hasn't asked the New York Knicks for a trade. Reddish also said he had no knowledge of the Knicks talking trades with anyone. However, New York is reportedly looking at deals that could involve the fourth-year wing.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks have all shown interest in Reddish since the Knicks acquired him last season. The Lakers and Knicks talked trades involving Reddish earlier this month, but were unable to find a third team to complete the deal.

Reddish did not reach agreement on an extension before the season and will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. New York has reportedly tried to attach him to Evan Fournier in a trade to shed Fournier's contract.

Khris Middleton left the Milwaukee Bucks' 97-92 loss to the Houston Rockets in the second quarter due to a sprained ankle and did not return to the game.

Middleton appeared to suffer the injury in the first quarter. He attempted to play in the second quarter before leaving the game for good.

Middleton, who missed the first 20 games of the season due to wrist surgery, is averaging 13.8 points and 3.0 rebounds since his return.