Lillard, Antetokounmpo Shine as Bucks Dominate Spurs 121-105
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard tallied 26 points and eight assists, while Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 25 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 121-105 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
Brook Lopez added 22 points, 17 of which came in the first half, and AJ Green and Gary Trent each chipped in 14 points. The Bucks secured their second consecutive win after a stretch of four losses in five games.
Keldon Johnson paced the Spurs with 24 points. Chris Paul added 18 points, Harrison Barnes contributed 14, and Devin Vassell scored 11. Rookie Victor Wembanyama posted a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks.
Game Highlights
With the game tied at 33 early in the second quarter, the Bucks unleashed a 32-13 run, fueled by sharp 3-point shooting from Green, Lopez, and Lillard, to take control. Despite a 16-5 Spurs run to start the second half, capped by Paul’s third 3-pointer to cut the deficit to eight, Milwaukee regained momentum and ended the third quarter up by 13.
The Bucks extended their lead to as much as 26 in the fourth quarter, shooting an impressive 19-for-42 from beyond the arc.
Notable Absence
Spurs starting forward Jeremy Sochan, averaging 13.4 points per game, was sidelined due to a back injury.
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Key Moments
- Defensive Play: With 30 seconds remaining in the first half, Antetokounmpo blocked Vassell's dunk attempt, and Lopez followed with a 3-pointer to extend Milwaukee’s lead to 19 at halftime.
- Shooting Performance: Milwaukee was 12-for-24 from beyond the arc in the first half, with Green hitting 4 of 5, including a 30-foot dagger.
Takeaways
- Spurs: No San Antonio players reached double figures in the first half, and the team finished 18-for-52 on 3-point attempts.
- Bucks: Antetokounmpo dominated early with 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists in the opening quarter. Lillard, meanwhile, didn’t score until a layup early in the second quarter but finished strong.
Up Next
- Spurs: Visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
- Bucks: Travel to face the Orlando Magic on Friday.