NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Bucks defeat Clippers for 10th straight win
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates his basket during a 119-106 win over the LA Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 10, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
Giannis Antetokounmpo logged 35 points and eight rebounds and Brook Lopez added 22 points and 15 rebounds as the visiting Milwaukee Bucks extended their winning streak to a season-best 10 games with a 119-106 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
Jrue Holiday had 19 points and Jevon Carter added 13 as the Bucks won without Khris Middleton, who was given the night off on the second night of a back-to-back for load management after recently returning from a knee injury.
Milwaukee has its first double-digit-game winning streak since earning 18 victories in a row during the 2019-20 season.
The Bucks improved to 3-0 on a stretch where they will play four of five games on the road, with a showdown ahead at home on Tuesday against the Boston Celtics, who own the best record in the NBA, one game ahead of Milwaukee.
Brandon Boston Jr. scored 20 points and Paul George added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers. Los Angeles was without star Kawhi Leonard, who was on his own load-management rest after a previous knee injury.
Giannis (35 PTS) leads the @Bucks to their 10th STRAIGHT WIN! pic.twitter.com/w9ZY1Hy5dy
— NBA (@NBA) February 11, 2023
Norman Powell had 16 points and Marcus Morris Sr. scored 15 for Los Angeles, which has lost two games in a row.
The Bucks acquired Jae Crowder in a trade Thursday, but he was not yet available. The Clippers used eight players for the majority of the game with new trade acquisitions Bones Hyland, Eric Gordon and Mason Plumlee not yet available, although all three were at the arena Friday.
Milwaukee led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter and had a 27-22 lead after the opening period. The Clippers stormed back to lead by as many as eight points in the second quarter before the Bucks led 54-51 at halftime.
Milwaukee pushed in front by nine points in the third quarter and took an 81-76 lead into the final period. The Bucks moved back up by double digits at 94-83 after two free throws from Antetokounmpo with 8:19 remaining.
The Bucks led 106-88 with 4:30 remaining after a 3-pointer from Holiday and a shot inside from Antetokounmpo and cruised to the victory from there.
