MILWAUKEE (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 parts and a season-high 15 assists, and the two-time league MVP obtained loads of attend as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the San Antonio Spurs 120-113 on Saturday evening.
The Bucks (27-14) gained their season-most efficient sixth straight recreation with seven avid gamers scoring in double figures. Khris Middleton scored 23 parts and Jrue Vacation added 21. Antetokounmpo grabbed eight rebounds, barely missing a triple double.
Lonnie Walker scored a profession-high 31 parts for the Spurs (22-17), and DeMar DeRozan added 22. Walker sank 13 of 21 photos, alongside side 5 of 9 from 3-point vary.
The Spurs trailed 98-94 after a jumper by Walker following a San Antonio timeout. Middleton spoke back with a 3-pointer and Pat Connaughton scored a layup off an attend by Antetokounmpo, forcing a rapidly Spurs timeout.
Two more 3-pointers by Middleton in the closing 5 1/2 minutes helped the Bucks pull away, and Antetokounmpo added a resounding dunk and a 3-pointer.
Donte DiVincenzo had 12 parts and a personnel-high 13 rebounds for Milwaukee, which gained for the 11th time in 12 video games. Brook Lopez and Connaughton each and each had 11 parts and dilapidated Spurs guard Bryn Forbes added 10.
The Bucks rallied from a 14-point, first-half deficit and even frail some zone defense to examine up on to tedious down the Spurs.
”To delivery off the game, I believed they hit each and each floater, each and each mid-vary shot that they took,” Middleton talked about. ”After some time we started switching somewhat bit more, making an attempt to be up somewhat more to rob that shot away and furthermore to rob away the flexibility.
”Giannis and Jrue did a ample job of shifting into the guards and making it refined on them.”
The Spurs ended a 5-recreation day out with a 3-2 report and coach Gregg Popovich turn into once now now not discouraged by the loss.
”Here is the fifth recreation in seven nights,” Popovich talked about. ”A pair of crucial guys did now not play, however or now now not it’s now not associated. All of them strategy to compete.
”We had 29 assists tonight in opposition to a hell of a personnel. We’re thrilled with the formula we performed. We beautiful must help the consistency.”
Vacation turn into once fouled by Devin Vassell on a 3-point strive with 5-tenths of a 2nd left in the third quarter, and Vacation made all three free throws to present the Bucks an 88-84 lead. Thee Bucks guard furthermore sank a 3-pointer in the closing 2nd of the first half to lengthen Milwaukee’s lead to seven parts in the mean time.
”It turn into once if truth be told a boost so as to enter the cease of the quarter on a correct cowl and survey the ball drag in the basket,” Vacation talked about. ”I mediate it turn into once broad.”
The Spurs’ exact delivery turn into once keyed by DeRozan, who had eight parts in the gap quarter as San Antonio took a 33-26 advantage.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Dejounte Murray and Patty Mills were held out of the lineup for rest as San Antonio performed the 2nd recreation of a help-to-help jam and the finale of its avenue day out. ”It takes its toll,” Popovich talked about. ”We beautiful determined with this increased density in the time desk for the rationale that every and every one-principal particular person damage that we wanted to attend them protect in correct form. And we’ve been in fixed contact with the league; they’ve been ample about working out the grief.” . Popovich is one victory away from reaching 1,300 in his profession. Essentially the most simple diversified NBA coaches to attain that level were Don Nelson (1,335) and Lenny Wilkens. (1,332).
Bucks: P.J. Tucker made his Milwaukee debut after being purchased in a commerce with Houston on Wednesday. The 35-Twelve months-vulnerable ahead had now now not performed since March 3 while wanting ahead to the rebuilding Rockets to plan a deal. ”That you just would be capable to also survey the depth,” Middleton talked about. ”He goes to be a ample match for us.” Tucker entered the game with 4: 32 left in the first quarter and performed 13 minutes. He had three rebounds and did now not procure. . Rodions Kurucs, furthermore purchased in the Houston commerce, turn into once lazy (smartly being and safety protocols).
UP NEXT
Spurs: Return home to meet the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, the first time on their like floor since a victory over Orlando on March 12.
Bucks: Play the 2nd recreation of a 5-recreation homestand in opposition to the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Milwaukee hit 21 3-pointers in a 130-110 victory over Indiana on Feb. 3.
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