Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his second triple-double in as many games with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and eight Bucks scored in double-figures as Milwaukee survived against the Washington Wizards, 125-119, on Saturday in Washington D.C.
The MVP with another triple-double tonight:
33 PTS | 11 REB | 11 AST pic.twitter.com/RHMldgZTAz
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 14, 2021
The Wizards played without Bradley Beal, All-Star and the league’s leading scorer, who sat out the second leg of Washington’s weekend back-to-back due to a knee injury. But teammate Russell Westbrook picked up the slack.
Westbrook matched Antetokounmpo with a triple-double, posting 42 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, and led the Wizards with an energetic first half. They took a 12-point lead in the second quarter before Milwaukee battled back.
Westbrook and Antetokounmpo became the sixth pair of opponents to drop 30-plus point triple-doubles in NBA history.
🔥 Giannis and Russ become 6th pair of opponents to drop 30+ point triple-doubles in NBA history, with MIL outlasting WAS! @Giannis_An34: 33 PTS, 11 REB, 11 AST@russwest44: 42 PTS, 10 REB, 12 AST pic.twitter.com/eQvPKfs9nN
— NBA (@NBA) March 14, 2021
The Bucks cut the deficit to one point by halftime, then went back-and-forth with the Wizards for the duration of the second half.
Behind Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee’s balanced scoring kept pace with the potent two-man Washington combination of Westbrook and Rui Hachimura.
Jrue Holiday scored 18 points, Khris Middleton added 16 — including a pair of free throws with 32.9 seconds remaining that broke a 119-119 tie and gave the Bucks the lead for good — and Brook Lopez added 11 points. Donte DiVincenzo rounded out the scoring for the starters with 10 points and grabbed both a game- and career-high 13 rebounds.
Milwaukee’s bench played a critical role in the win, getting 14 points from Bobby Portis, 11 from Pat Connaughton and 10 from Bryn Forbes. The Bucks reserves outscored the Wizards bench, 37-20.
Washington gave the high-scoring Bucks a challenge defensively, however, holding them to just 43.4 percent shooting from the floor. Hachimura, who fell one point shy of matching his career-high with 29 points, was also key on defense and the glass.
He pulled down 11 rebounds and made three steals, part of the 18 Milwaukee turnovers Washington forced.
The Bucks’ 13 offensive rebounds and 57-41 overall advantage on the boards helped them to their third straight victory.
The teams play again on Monday.