Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton restrain O.J. Mayo, center, as he goes toward a referee after being assessed a second technical foul. AP
MINNEAPOLIS — Greg Monroe had 19 points and 10 rebounds to help the Milwaukee Bucks overcome O.J. Mayo’s wild ejection in a 95-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.
John Henson scored 15 points for the Bucks, and Khris Middleton added 13. Mayo was forcibly removed from the court by coaches and security staff after he picked up two technical fouls in the first quarter.
Ricky Rubio had 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Timberwolves, who led 22-5 in the first quarter. Andrew Wiggins added 19 points on 7-for-17 shooting.
The Wolves shot just 39 percent, and their 16 turnovers led to 22 points for the Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Jerryd Bayless scored 13 for Milwaukee.
Karl-Anthony Towns had eight points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota but shot just 4 of 17. Zach LaVine went 3 for 9 and the Wolves were 3 of 14 on 3-pointers in falling to 5-13 at home.
Mayo picked up a technical foul from Pat Fraher after arguing for a foul call on a drive to the basket. As the game went to break, referee Jason Phillips gave Mayo another technical, which prompted the ejection. Mayo spun back toward the officiating crew wildly, and coaches Eric Hughes and Joe Prunty had to try to restrain him by yanking on his jersey.
Mayo made several more efforts to get back onto the court and finally was forced down the tunnel to the locker room by a security official. It was the latest outburst from Mayo, who got into a heated confrontation with Kings center DeMarcus Cousins in a back hallway this season.
Mayo’s exit did seem to wake up the Bucks after a dreadful start to the game. They missed their first 11 shots, trailed by 17 only 9 minutes in and didn’t make a field goal until 3:18 remained in the first quarter, the longest drought to start a game since the New Orleans Hornets went 9:18 against Orlando in 2006.
But after going 3 for 17 in the first quarter, the Bucks went 10 for 17 in the second to climb back into it.
They opened the fourth period with an 11-0 surge to take an 83-70 lead and never looked back.