Giannis Antetokounmpo powers Bucks past Thunder

Posted by watchmen
March 26, 2024
Posted in SPORTS

 

MILWAUKEE BUCKS FORWARD GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO (Adam Davis / EPA-EFE / File photo)
MILWAUKEE BUCKS FORWARD GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO (Adam Davis / EPA-EFE / File photo)

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 118-93 win over the visiting Oklahoma City (OKC) Thunder yesterday (Philippine time).

Khris Middleton notched his second career triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Bucks (46-25).

Bobby Portis scored 15 points and Brook Lopez added 14.

Josh Giddey led the Thunder (49-21) with 19.

After a hot start, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with just 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting, and Chet Holmgren finished with six, going 1-for-10 from the floor.

It snapped a 30-game streak for Gilgeous-Alexander, scoring at least 20 points.

The first half was tightly contested.

The Bucks trailed by as many as eight in the first quarter, but rattled off an 11-0 run to go into the second up 25-22.

In the second quarter, Milwaukee led by as many as nine, but it was the Thunder who went on a late run to turn the tides.

OKC went on a 12-2 surge to take the lead just before Milwaukee ended the half up 48-47.

Antetokounmpo had 12 points and 10 boards at the half, while Damian Lillard had just two points on 1-of-8 shooting. Giddey had 15 before halftime for OKC.

The third quarter started in the Bucks’ favor, with OKC struggling from the field.

The Thunder did not make a field goal for more than six minutes to start the half, and the Bucks went on an 18-2 run as a result, taking a 66-49 lead.

From there, Milwaukee went on cruise control.

The Bucks went into the fourth with an 82-64 advantage.

Milwaukee outscored the Thunder, 70-46, in the second half, with OKC scoring just 17 points in the third quarter.

The Bucks grew a lead to as many as 26.

It’s just the eighth time Milwaukee has held an opponent under 100 points this season.

The Bucks grabbed a season-high 57 rebounds. (Field Level Media / Reuters)

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