The Milwaukee Bucks held off the visiting Washington Wizards, after giving up a 17-point lead, on Tuesday night in Milwaukee to win 112–98.
The defending champion Bucks improved their record to 32–21 after going 7–8 in January; while the Wizards lost their sixth straight game to drop to 23–27.
After not scoring in the first quarter, Giannis Antetokounmpo had his third 30-point plus triple-double; with 33 points on 14 of 21 shooting, 15 rebounds, 11 assists, and two blocks.
Antetokounmpo passed Michael Jordan for 18th all-time in triple-doubles with 29.
“I’ve come to (the) realization that in order for me to be great, I’ve got to get my teammates involved as much as possible,” said Antetokounmpo.
The first quarter ended with the Bucks ahead by four, 24–20, as Antetokounmpo was held scoreless.
Milwaukee extended their advantage in the second quarter, with Pat Connaughton’s 27-foot three pointer, for their largest lead of 17, 43–26.
Jrue Holiday followed Antetokounmpo with 22 points, five rebounds, and two assists; while Bobby Portis scored 17 points and added seven rebounds, and Khris Middleton contributed 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Kyle Kuzma led Washington with 25 points on 9 of 19 shooting, hitting three three-pointers, 11 rebounds, two assists, and three blocks.
Washington would slowly erase the deficit and tie the game, 79–79, with 10:15 remaining in the fourth quarter with Montrezl Harrell’s layup from an assist by Rui Hachimura.
Harrell had a big fourth quarter with 12 points in the Wizards’ rally; he came off the bench for 20 points total on 9 of 15 shooting, and five rebounds.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 12 points for Washington. Hachimura added eight points off the bench, and Spencer Dinwiddie and Corey Kispert both had seven points.
Without Bradley Beal, guard Aaron Holiday started for the Wizards scoring three points in 19 minutes of action; he is the younger brother of Jrue Holiday of the Bucks.
The Bucks went on a 12–2 run to lead by seven, 95–88, with 6:10 remaining, with two free throws by Antetokounmpo following Harrell’s flagrant foul on Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo thought Bobby Portis received a technical foul standing up for Antetokounmpo after the flagrant foul by Harrell. So Antetokounmpo came over to tell Portis that he would pay the $2,000 fine for Portis. Antetokounmpo is known to be quite generous.
“I respect Bobby for doing that,” said Antetokounmpo. “At the end of the day, we as a team, we’ve got to set the tone. If somebody gets fouled hard, we’re not going to let happen, especially in Milwaukee, in our house, or even on the road.”
Washington got within a point, 94–95 with 5:14 left in the game, after three-pointers by Dinwiddie and Caldwell-Pope.
On Washington’s following possession, Kuzma missed a 26-foot three pointer that would have given them the lead.
The Bucks would go on a 17–2 run to extend the lead, beginning with Holiday’s three-pointer with 4:17 minutes left; Antetokounmpoto took over the fourth quarter in the 112–98 win.
“It doesn’t matter if I score in third quarter,” added Antetokounmpoto. “I know that I got to get involved as much as possible, and leave the game on the line in the fourth quarter. I can be aggressive.”
The Wizards continue their road trip at Philadelphia on Wednesday; while the Bucks travel to Portland on Saturday.
