MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered an impressive performance with 32 points and 11 rebounds, while Damian Lillard contributed 31 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 125-119 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. This win marks the Bucks’ fourth straight triumph.
Milwaukee surged in the fourth quarter, starting with a strong 14-5 run that put them ahead 110-90. However, the Hornets fought back, narrowing the gap to 121-119 thanks to a 3-pointer from Brandon Miller with just 15 seconds remaining.
In response, Taurean Prince secured the game by sinking two free throws, establishing a two-possession game. Charlotte then attempted a pair of 3-pointers on their next possession but missed both. Antetokounmpo closed the game with two free throws with only 4.5 seconds on the clock, solidifying the score at 125-119.
LaMelo Ball shone for the Hornets, setting a career high with 50 points, while Miller added 32 points. Ball’s shooting stats included 17 of 38 from the field, 6 of 17 from deep, and 10 of 13 from the charity stripe.
With this victory, Milwaukee completed a successful 4-0 homestand and has now won six of their last seven games. Their only defeat in that stretch came from the Hornets on November 16, a game that ended controversially with a foul call.
Unfortunately for Charlotte, Grant Williams exited late in the fourth quarter due to what appeared to be a leg injury and did not return to the game.
In recent trends, the Hornets have struggled, losing five of their last seven matches, while the Bucks’ Lillard, who missed the previous game against Charlotte, managed to hit 9 of 21 shots, including a remarkable 10 of 11 from the foul line.
A key moment in the game came when the Bucks hit four consecutive 3-pointers to complete a 12-3 run, which pushed their lead to 96-83 late in the third quarter.
Statistically, Milwaukee showcased their strong shooting, hitting 18 of 37 from beyond the arc, equating to their highest number of 3-pointers made in a game this season.
Looking ahead, the Hornets will host the Orlando Magic on Monday, while the Bucks are set to face the Miami Heat in NBA Group Play on Tuesday.