Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 118-113 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
The Bucks bounced back from recent losses to the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics, earning their eighth win in the last 10 games. They improved to 10-3 since a tough start to the season, which included a 13-point loss to the Nets on October 27.
Antetokounmpo made 14 of his 22 shots and grabbed 11 rebounds, adding four assists and three blocks to his performance.
Bobby Portis played a key role, scoring 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. His clutch three-pointer from the left side, following a steal by Andre Jackson Jr., put the Bucks ahead 109-108 with 2:08 left. Portis made 9 of 10 shots, including a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range. He also blocked Dennis Schroder’s shot, leading to an Antetokounmpo dunk with 1:09 remaining.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 20 points as the Bucks shot 57.4 percent from the field and made 15 three-pointers. Damian Lillard contributed 15 points and 11 assists, while Khris Middleton added 11 points in his second game back from an ankle injury.
Schroder had a season-high 34 points and 11 assists, but the Nets lost for the fourth time in their last five games. Cameron Johnson scored 26 points, and Nic Claxton added a season-high 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Despite shooting 50.6 percent, the Nets couldn’t hold onto a 12-point lead late in the third quarter.
Antetokounmpo scored 11 points in the first quarter as the Bucks shot nearly 53 percent and led 27-25. Schroder finished the first half with a 19-point performance, including a jumper right before the halftime buzzer, giving the Nets a 52-51 lead.
Claxton’s three-point play and a dunk put the Nets up 63-58 with 8:26 left in the third quarter. Johnson then scored six straight points, and his layup in transition gave Brooklyn a 74-66 lead with about 5 1/2 minutes remaining.
Brooklyn extended its lead to 83-71 after two free throws by Day’Ron Sharpe. However, the Bucks responded with a 15-3 run in the final 3:17, tying the game at 86-86 as they headed into the fourth.
The Nets led 98-93 when Antetokounmpo returned with 8:02 left in the game. After a three-pointer from Johnson, Brooklyn led 106-101 with 3:47 remaining.
