DETROIT (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points and Damian Lillard had 27, lifting the surging Milwaukee Bucks to a 128-107 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night and into the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
The Bucks, who won East Group B with a 4-0 record, have won seven straight and nine of 10.
Detroit was eliminated from the NBA Cup, dropping to 3-1 in the tournament. Cade Cunningham scored 23 points, Tobias Harris had 16, Tim Hardaway scored 15 and Jalen Duren added 11 for the Pistons.
Milwaukee's Gary Trent Jr. scored 16 points, Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince each scored 14 and A.J. Green added 11.
The hot-shooting Bucks led 36-31 after the first quarter and were ahead 78-59 at halftime in a game that simply wasn't competitive.
Antetokounmpo rested in the fourth quarter, after making 10 of 11 shots in 28 minutes. He also had eight assists and seven rebounds after having a triple-double in three of his previous six games.
Bucks: The team is on a roll after a 2-8 start, leaning on its dynamic duo of Antetokounmpo and Lillard.
Pistons: In one of the more significant games during a dismal era, Detroit failed to make the most of the opportunity.
Lillard made a jumper on the opening possession and scored seven points in 2:35, helping the Bucks build a 10-4 lead. Milwaukee stayed in control the rest of the game.
The Bucks were making more than 70% of their shots as they pulled away from Detroit in the first half. They connected on 69% through two quarters and 66% entering the fourth, giving them a 22-point lead.
Bucks: Host Atlanta on Wednesday night.
Pistons: At Boston on Wednesday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers argues a call with referee Kevin Scott (24) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff gestures to an official during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) goes to the basket past Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) takes a shot ahead of Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside a hotel in midtown Manhattan where he was scheduled to speak at an investor meeting Wednesday morning, according to a person briefed on the investigation.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the investigation.
Police did not release the victim's name, but said a 50-year-old was shot around 6:45 a.m. outside a Hilton before the shooter fled.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital but could not be saved.
The preliminary police investigation indicated the shooting was “a targeted murder,” according to Mayor Eric Adams.
He said police were looking at evidence recovered from the scene and canvassing video. “Tell New Yorkers: NYPD is on the job,” he said. “Again, this was not what appears to be a just random act of violence. It seems to be clearly targeted by an individual and we will apprehend that individual.”
UnitedHealthcare is the insurance arm of the health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc. The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based company was scheduled to have its annual meeting with investors in New York City to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year, according to a company media advisory. An announcement was made to attendees Wednesday morning that the conference was ending early.
The Hilton is in a bustling part of Manhattan, a short walk from tourist sites such as the Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller Center, and often dense with tourists and office workers on weekday mornings. The popular Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting is set to take place Wednesday evening.
Part of the block where the shooting took place was cordoned off with police tape, with a large contingent of police officers at the scene. Many security cameras are nearby.
Thompson had served as CEO for more than three years and had been with the company since 2004.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz tweeted that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”
“This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs.
Associated Press writer Tom Murphy in Indianapolis, Indiana, contributed to this story.
The UnitedHealthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., lowered its flags to half-staff on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in honor of CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot outside a hotel in New York. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)
This undated photo provided by UnitedHealth Group shows UnitedHealthcare chief executive officer Brian Thompson. (AP Photo/UnitedHealth Group via AP)
A New York police officer walks outside a hotel where a shooting occurred in midtown Manhattan, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Joe Frederick)
