Cameron Johnson scored 26 points and Cam Thomas added 24 as the Brooklyn Nets held on to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-110 on Thursday in Milwaukee, despite a strong fourth-quarter rally from the Bucks.
The Nets were leading 111-90 with 6:55 left in the game but missed their next 12 shots. Damian Lillard then scored five straight points, leading a 20-0 run to bring Milwaukee within 111-110 with 37.4 seconds remaining.
After Giannis Antetokounmpo missed a layup with 6.1 seconds left, Ziaire Williams of Brooklyn made two free throws to give the Nets a three-point lead.
Lillard missed a 3-point shot on the Bucks’ next possession, and although Milwaukee had one last chance with 0.6 seconds left, Lillard’s 35-foot shot missed, allowing Brooklyn to escape with the win and end their three-game losing streak.
Nic Claxton recorded 16 points and 11 rebounds for Brooklyn, which won the season series against the Bucks 3-1. Jalen Wilson scored 13 points, and D’Angelo Russell contributed 11 points and 12 assists.
Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Lillard finished with 23 points and seven assists, Bobby Portis Jr. added 15 points and eight rebounds, Khris Middleton scored 12 points, and Gary Trent Jr. chipped in 10 points.
Thomas was a key contributor off the bench, scoring 12 points in the first quarter to help the Nets lead 30-23 at the end of the period.
Brooklyn kept control in the second quarter, taking a 66-54 lead at halftime. Thomas had 17 points in the first half, while Milwaukee struggled, shooting just 33.3 percent (5 of 15) from beyond the arc.
The Nets extended their lead to 24 points, going up 90-68 with 4:35 left in the third quarter. However, the Bucks closed the period with a 17-4 run to cut the deficit to nine.
Brooklyn regained control by outscoring Milwaukee 17-5 to start the fourth quarter.
The Nets played without Noah Clowney, who was out with a left hip contusion. Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. was ejected in the second quarter for a flagrant-two foul after slapping Claxton in the face.
