By Adrian Stewart Co
Milwaukee Bucks showed that they were the steadier team in the endgame as they eked out a 114-104 win over Charlotte Hornets in the 2020-2021 NBA Season on Tuesday night (Wednesday in the Philippines) at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
After seeing its once double-digit edge trimmed to 103-99, the Bucks got consecutive hits from Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton to make it a 110-101 count.
The Hornets had its last push at 104-110 after a three-pointer by Devonte Graham but a basket by Holiday and two free throws by Antetokounmpo sealed the win for the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo finished the match with 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, while Brook Lopez added 22 markers as the Bucks stayed at third in the Eastern Conference with 38-23 slate.
Middleton chipped in 17 markers, while Brynn Forbes and Holiday also hit double-figures on offense for Milwaukee with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
Graham tallied 25 points, while Mikal Bridges added 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Hornets (30-31), which were without injured LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward.
Brooklyn Nets (42-20) recorded its third straight victory with a 116-103 domination over Toronto Raptors (26-36) and remain at solo first place in the East.
Jeff Green anchored the Nets’ offense with 22 points, Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant added 17 markers each, while Joe Harris contributed 16 markers.
In other results, Oklahoma City Thunder (21-41) pulled off a 119-115 stunner over Boston Celtics (32-30), while Portland Trail Blazers (33-28) edged Indiana Pacers (29-32), 133-112.
BOX SCORE:
MILWAUKEE 114 – G. Antetokounmpo 29, Lopez 22, Middleton 17, Forbes 15, Holiday 12, DiVincenzo 9, Tucker 5, Portis 5, T. Antetokounmpo 0, Connaughton 0.
CHARLOTTE 104 – Graham 25, Bridges 21, Washington 18, Wanamaker 13, Co. Martin 10, Rozier 8, McDaniels 6, Biyombo 3.
Quarterscores: 33-28, 62-45, 87-80, 114-104./ASC, WDJ