MILWAUKEE — In a standout performance, Bobby Portis stepped in for Giannis Antetokounmpo, contributing a season-high 34 points as the Milwaukee Bucks triumphed over the Washington Wizards with a score of 112-101 on Saturday night.
Alongside Portis, Khris Middleton had an impressive outing with 18 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. Portis also tallied 10 rebounds and eight assists, showcasing his all-around game.
The Bucks were without Antetokounmpo for the third time this season due to back spasms, and they also missed Damian Lillard, who is sidelined with a right calf strain. This absence came right after the team celebrated winning the NBA Cup earlier in the week. Coach Doc Rivers noted that Lillard might return to action on Monday against Chicago.
In Lillard’s place, rookie Ryan Rollins started at the point guard position and added 14 points in his 31 minutes on the court. Center Brook Lopez matched Rollins with 14 points, while Gary Trent Jr. contributed 15 points along with seven rebounds.
For Middleton, this marked his second consecutive game after scoring 14 points in just 19 minutes during a previous contest against Cleveland. He is gradually finding his rhythm following recovery from offseason surgeries on both ankles.
On the Wizards’ side, Jordan Poole led the scoring with 26 points, while Bilal Coulibaly had a solid performance that included 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Regarding game highlights, the Wizards started strong, shooting 72% from the floor (13 of 18) in the first quarter, but their efficiency waned as they converted only 5 of 21 shots in the second quarter.
For the Bucks, Portis was particularly effective, scoring 23 points in the first half alone with an impressive shooting line of 10-of-12 (including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc). He ended the game hitting 14 of his 21 attempts while going 6 of 9 from three.
A decisive moment in the game came when Middleton scored 11 points during a pivotal 15-2 run for the Bucks early in the third quarter, pushing Milwaukee’s lead to 80-58. He connected on three 3-pointers and a mid-range jumper during this stretch.
One of the critical statistics of the game was that the Wizards committed 19 turnovers, which allowed the Bucks to capitalize for 24 points.
Looking ahead, the Wizards will head to Oklahoma City on Monday, while the Bucks are set to face the Chicago Bulls on the same day, marking the first of two road games against Chicago during the Christmas week.