Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks a basket against Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter (9) in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in a game-high 35 points, Jrue Holiday was nearly as productive with 31 and the Milwaukee Bucks pulled away late to defeat the visiting Sacramento Kings 126-113 on Wednesday night.
All five starters scored in double figures as the Bucks won their third straight in their first meeting of the season with the Kings.
Domantas Sabonis had a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double for Sacramento, which trailed most of the way but got within 99-98 with 10:27 to play on a Davion Mitchell hoop.
A Sabonis layup had the Kings down just 109-105 with still 6:15 to play, but Antetokounmpo dropped in two interior hoops and two free throws, sandwiching a Grayson Allen layup, in an eight-point run that put the hosts up 12 and broke the game open.
Antetokounmpo shot 12-for-19 and Holiday 12-for-23 in the second game this season in which both scored at least 30 points. Both players had 34 in a home win over the Atlanta Hawks in October.
🔥 35 PTS (63.2% FG) | 6 REB | 7 AST@Giannis_An34 balled out for his 8th straight game with 30+ points! #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/HfYy9Sx5JA
— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2022
Antetokounmpo added 9-for-10 at the free throw line, where the Bucks enjoyed a 20-15 advantage in points.
Brook Lopez (17 points with a team-high nine rebounds), Kris Middleton (14) and Allen (10) also scored in double figures for Milwaukee, which was playing its only home game in a stretch of four of five on the road.
All five starters made two 3-pointers each, as did reserve Pat Connaughton, as the Bucks shot 14-for-33 from beyond the arc and outscored the visitors 42-36 from deep.
Sabonis made nine of his 11 shots and also found time to tie Antetokounmpo for game-high assist honors with seven.
Harrison Barnes backed Sabonis with 20 points for Sacramento, while Malik Monk added 16, De’Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray had 15 apiece and Kevin Huerter scored 13.
Murray and Huerter drilled three 3-pointers each.
The Kings saw a three-game winning streak come to an end despite shooting 47.3 percent, nearly identical to the Bucks’ 47.9 percent.