NEW YORK — Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated the court with an impressive performance, accumulating 34 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists as the Milwaukee Bucks ended their two-game losing streak with a 118-113 victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
Damien Lillard contributed significantly with 15 points along with 11 assists, while Bobby Portis proved vital off the bench, scoring 23 points and grabbing five rebounds. This win marked the Bucks’ tenth victory in their last 13 games, solidifying their strong start to the season.
The Nets struggled despite strong individual performances, with Dennis Schroder leading the team in scoring, posting 34 points and 10 assists. Cam Johnson added 26 points, and Nic Claxton contributed 21 points alongside nine rebounds. Unfortunately for Brooklyn, this loss represented their fourth in five games, putting them at a disappointing 4-13 record against teams from the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee had some varying statistics of interest. Although Lillard’s streak of six consecutive games scoring at least 25 points came to an end, Antetokounmpo recorded his 14th game this season with 30 points or more, maintaining his lead in the league.
On the Brooklyn side, Schroder’s scoring prowess was evident as he eclipsed the 30-point mark for the third time this season, averaging 31.5 points in his matchups against Milwaukee. With a career total of 493 points in 31 games against the Bucks, he was a force to be reckoned with on the court.
A crucial moment in the game came with 3:08 remaining, as Schroder’s jumper gave Brooklyn a 108-104 lead. However, Milwaukee quickly regained momentum, closing out the game by scoring 15 of the final 20 points. Khris Middleton, recovering from bilateral ankle surgery and just playing in his third game of the season, contributed seven points during the fourth quarter. Portis hit a pivotal three-pointer with just 2:08 left, securing a 109-108 lead for the Bucks, which they would not relinquish.
Another noteworthy statistic included Brooklyn ending Milwaukee’s streak of 15 consecutive games without allowing their opponents to shoot over 50%. The Nets became only the fourth team to breach the 50% shooting mark against the Bucks, who now hold a record of 1-3 in the fewer instances they’ve allowed such shooting percentages.
Despite a slow start where the Nets managed only 8 of 22 field goals (36.4%) in the first quarter, they rebounded to shoot 56% over the next three quarters.
Looking ahead, the Bucks are set to host the Orlando Magic for an NBA Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday, while the Nets will make their way to Memphis for another game on Friday.
