Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined for 25 points during a 47-point first quarter that propelled the Milwaukee Bucks to a 130-115 win over the visiting Kings, snapping Sacramento’s seven-game winning streak.
Antetokounmpo finished with a game-high 33 points and Lillard totaled 24 for the Bucks, who rebounded from a 34-point loss against the New York Knicks on Sunday, January 12, to earn their fourth win in the past five games.
DeMar DeRozan had a team-high 28 points and De’Aaron Fox recorded a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Kings, who lost for just the second time in nine games since Doug Christie took over as interim coach after Mike Brown was fired.
The Bucks wasted little time taking control of the game, outscoring Sacramento 30-11 over the final 6:30 of the first quarter to build a 47-26 lead. Antetokounmpo had 15 of the 47 points, while Lillard drilled three three-pointers, one of which he turned into a four-point play.
Milwaukee kept the Kings at arm’s length the rest of the way, never allowing the visitors closer than 16 in the second quarter and 15 in the third.
Sacramento’s best run came early in the fourth quarter, when Fox and Keegan Murray hit three-pointers during a 14-3 spurt that cut a 22-point deficit in half with 8:28 to play. But Brook Lopez countered with a pair of three-pointers while Lillard and Ryan Rollins added one apiece as part of a 16-5 rally that produced the one-sided finish.
Antetokounmpo completed a triple-double with a game-high-tying 11 rebounds and a game-high 13 assists. He made 14 of his 23 shots from the floor, helping the Bucks outshoot the Kings 49.5 percent to 44.2 percent overall.
Lillard, who made five three-pointers, also found time for five rebounds and seven assists, while Lopez notched 21 points. AJ Green added 16 points, and Rollins tallied 10 for Milwaukee.
Domantas Sabonis just missed a triple-double of his own with 16 points, 10 rebounds and a team-high nine assists for the Kings. Keon Ellis chipped in 18 points, 15 of which came on five three-pointers.
Each team made 17 three-pointers. (Field Level Media / Reuters)