MILWAUKEE — Damian Lillard delivered an impressive performance with 34 points while Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 31 points and 16 rebounds, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 123-100 victory against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. This win marked a much-needed turnaround for the Bucks, who had faced a six-game losing streak prior to this matchup.
Antetokounmpo made his return to the court after sitting out a close game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where the Bucks fell by just two points. The six consecutive losses were the longest for Milwaukee since March 2015, making this game significant in their efforts to regain momentum. It was crucial for the team to avoid what would have been their first seven-game losing streak since March 2014, a period that saw them endure eight consecutive defeats.
On the other side, the Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson was the top scorer off the bench with 18 points. Utah held a brief lead of 71-70 before the Bucks took control of the game with a remarkable 17-1 run late in the third quarter. During this explosive streak, Lillard and Antetokounmpo were instrumental, combining to score all of Milwaukee’s first 15 points.
In terms of performance trends, the Jazz entered the game struggling with their three-point shooting, ranked 27th in the league with an average of just over 11 three-pointers per game, and 29th with a shooting percentage of 30.3% from beyond the arc. However, they surprised many by hitting 14 of their 26 three-point attempts during the first half, gaining a 61-57 lead at halftime. Unfortunately for them, the second half saw a dramatic drop-off as they managed only 3 of 15 from long range.
Strategically, Bucks’ head coach Doc Rivers made significant adjustments to his lineup, starting Andre Jackson Jr. for the first time this season and shifting Gary Trent Jr. to a bench position.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Antetokounmpo picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter, with 10:26 remaining. Nevertheless, he remained on the court until nearly the end of the quarter, playing a crucial role in the Bucks’ scoring surge without accruing any further fouls during that stretch.
In another notable aspect, Antetokounmpo secured six offensive rebounds in the game, raising his career total to 1,469 and making him the Milwaukee Bucks’ all-time leader in that category. He surpassed Marques Johnson, who held the previous record with 1,468 offensive boards during his time with the team from 1977 to 1984.
Looking ahead, the Jazz will face the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, while the Bucks are set to take on the New York Knicks on Friday night.