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.

New Orleans Pelicans guard C.J. McCollum set a team record with 11 three-pointers in his team's victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Postgame, McCollum wasn't taking the hot shooting night for granted.

"I know this is something that doesn't last forever," McCollum said. "You don't get to play forever. You don't get to have these moments forever. So, I was just trying to take it all in."

McCollum scored 42 points in the win for New Orleans. The big effort came one game after Zion Williamson scored 43 points in a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. This was the first time in Pelicans' history that teammates have gone for 40+ points in consecutive games.

Nate McMillan denied a report from The Athletic that he has considered stepping away as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. 

"I read that article briefly. I've never spoke to that reporter before. I think the last two weeks he's written a couple of articles with some sources in our organization that are making some comments about me and some things that I'm saying and doing," said McMillan on Friday.

McMillan added that he'll coach out the rest of this year, then re-assess his situation during the offseason. 

McMillan added that retirement is potentially in the picture. 

"Look, at the end of the year, I'll do as I've always done. I'll talk with my family and see if that flame, that fire, to continue next season, but that's the end of the season.

"All of us think about retiring, but that's at the end of the season. We're going to move past that, that story."

Nate McMillan has strongly considered stepping down as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks this season, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.

McMillan's job has been considered safe and the Hawks have wanted him to finish out the sideline. But McMillan appears at the end of his tenure with the Hawks after the season unless he steps down.

No resignation from McMillan is imminent.

The Hawks have a 17-18 record and have had issues with Trae Young and John Collins.

McMillan took over as Hawks head coach in 2021 after the firing of Lloyd Pierce and had immediate success.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to explore the trade market for an improvement on the wing, sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN.

The Cavaliers cycle through Isaac Okoro, Lamar Stevens, Caris LeVert and Cedi Osman as the wing to play with their core.

Cleveland will also get Ricky Rubio and Dean Wade back from injuries.

With their trade for Donovan Mitchell this past offseason, the Cavaliers have limited assets available to trade for a meaningful upgrade. 

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have waived forward Justin Champagnie. Toronto’s roster now stands at 14, with two two-way players.  

Champagnie, 6-foot-6, 202 pounds, averaged 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 rebounds and 7.5 minutes in 39 career games with the Raptors. He scored in double figures twice, including a career-high 14 points Jan. 4, 2022 against San Antonio. Champagnie originally signed a two-way contract with Toronto in the summer of 2021.

The Los Angeles Lakers are giving serious consideration to riding out the current season without making a major move if they can't find one that would make them a realistic championship contender, sources tell Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.

The Lakers turned around their season a few weeks ago when Anthony Davis began playing at an All-NBA level, but they have struggled since his injury.

Rob Pelinka said on media day that the Lakers were committed to maximizing the roster during the tenure of LeBron James.

The Lakers have tested the trade market by offering the expiring contract of Russell Westbrook and future first round picks in 2027 and 2029, but that package is unlikely to yield the type of move that turns the team into a contender. 

Following the Los Angeles Lakers loss at the Miami Heat, LeBron James spent some time musing about his future. Top of mind for James was that he's still playing to win.

"I'm a winner, and I want to win," James said. "And I want to win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships. That has always been my passion. That has always been my goal since I entered the league as an 18-year-old kid out of Akron, Ohio.

"And I know it takes steps to get there, but once you get there and know how to get there, playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA. It's not in my DNA anymore. So, we'll see what happens and see how fresh my mind stays over the next couple years."

When asked how long he'd continue to play, James didn't have a definitive answer.

"I don't have a number," James said. "I know as long as my mind stays in it, I can play at this level for a minute. Now, that's up to my mind. My body is going to be OK because if my mind is into it, I will make sure my body is taken care of and I'll continue to put in the work."

Zach LaVine re-signed with the Chicago Bulls this past offseason on a five-year, $215 million, but his future with the franchise is uncertain given their struggles this season. The Dallas Mavericks are a team who could potentially have interest in LaVine given their motivation to pair a second star with Luka Doncic.

"I just know that there are fans of him that hold prominent positions within the Mavericks," said Tim MacMahon on the Lowe Post podcast. "Again, I'm not sitting here and telling you there's some great consensus. I think there's enough fans of him where I wouldn't totally rule it out."

Zach Lowe interjected that the Bulls do not appear prepared to entertain trading LaVine at this point. The trade value of LaVine given his contract and injury issues is also difficult to gauge.

An ESPN report last week indicated James Harden has interest in returning to the Houston Rockets this offseason as a free agent depending on how the next few months plays out with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Harden was also a free agent last offseason and signed a two-year, $68.6 million deal with the Sixers that contains a player option for 23-24.

At the age of 33, Harden could continue signing shorter term deals in order to maintain flexibility.

"There are a lot of whispers around the league that he wants to continue cycling through one-plus-one kind of deals," said Zach Lowe.