Bucks eke out win over Wizards
Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots over Alex Len #27 of the Washington Wizards during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on May 05, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Jrue Holiday recorded 29 points, six assists and five rebounds to help the Milwaukee Bucks post a 135-134 victory over the visiting Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as the Bucks (42-24) won their fourth consecutive game. Milwaukee has defeated the Wizards eight straight times.
Article continues after this advertisementBradley Beal scored 42 points for Washington (30-36), which lost for just the fourth time in the past 17 games. Russell Westbrook contributed 27 points, 17 assists and 12 rebounds for his 179th career triple-double, two shy of the all-time record held by legendary Oscar Robertson.
Westbrook clinched his 19th triple-double in his past 23 games when he collected his 10th rebound with 6:26 left in the third quarter.
The Bucks were without Khris Middleton (knee) while Washington was missing Rui Hachimura (non-COVID illness). Milwaukee lost P.J. Tucker (jaw) shortly before the midway point of the third quarter after he collided with teammate Jeff Teague.
Article continues after this advertisementMilwaukee’s Donte DiVincenzo scored 19 points before fouling out. Pat Connaughton added 16 points for the Bucks.
Milwaukee led 127-124 when Antetokounmpo was called for a charge and fouled out with 1:54 left. After the Wizards moved within one, Connaughton hit two 3-pointers in a 22-second span to give the Bucks a 133-128 lead with 1:04 remaining.
Beal responded with a 3-pointer with 57.5 seconds left, but Milwaukee took a two-possession lead when Brook Lopez slammed home a put-back with 6.8 seconds to play.
Beal hit another 3-pointer with 5.3 seconds to go, and after a Bucks turnover, Washington’s Garrison Mathews saw his 55-foot heave hit the backboard and carom off the rim as time expired.
The Bucks shot 53.9 percent from the field, including 18 of 37 (48.6 percent) from 3-point range.
Washington connected on 49 percent of its shots and was 8 of 22 (36.4 percent) from behind the arc.
Westbrook scored eight points during an 11-0 burst to open the fourth quarter as the Wizards turned an eight-point deficit into a 106-103 advantage.
The Bucks answered with a 16-5 push to move ahead 119-111 on Forbes’ 3-pointer with 6:35 remaining. Washington rattled off the next eight to tie it with 5:25 to play.
Beal scored 22 first-half points and Washington led most of the opening two quarters before settling for a tie at 71 entering the break.
Milwaukee finished the third quarter with a 10-2 burst to take a 103-95 lead into the final stanza.
–Field Level Media
