NBA: Stephen Curry, Warriors shut down red-hot Bucks

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, middle left, is congratulated by coach Steve Kerr, middle right, and forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, right, after making a 3-point basket against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

SAN FRANCISCO — First, Draymond Green defended Giannis Antetokounmpo. Jonathan Kuminga got a few chances then Golden State coach Steve Kerr turned to rookie Tracye Jackson-Davis for a stretch.

Jackson-Davis had studied the Bucks big man and his tendencies: how he “drives left and spins back right” then attacks the basket.

Back at full strength for the first time in months, Golden State gave Antetokounmpo all kinds of looks while showing off its depth and talented bench.

READ: NBA: Stephen Curry leads Warriors past Knicks

Stephen Curry had 29 points, Kuminga scored 20, and the Warriors ran away from Milwaukee for a 125-90 win in the NBA on Wednesday night, handing the Bucks their first defeat since the All-Star break.

“He’s a great player he’s a load to guard. Props to our defense we tried to contain him,” Jackson-Davis said. “I’ve never faced anyone like him having the length like that.”

Steph put on a show tonight to beat the red-hot Bucks 🤩

29 PTS | 6 3PM | 8 REB | 5 AST

Warriors won 6 of the last 8 📈 pic.twitter.com/3oZLwhTwnv

— NBA (@NBA) March 7, 2024

After trailing by 20 at halftime, Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard led a 19-5 run to start the third and get the Bucks back in it — but Curry, who also had eight rebounds and five assists, went to work again.

Jackson-Davis had 15 points along with four of Golden State’s season-high 13 blocked shots to match his own career high. Kuminga swatted another three.

READ: NBA: Bucks’ recent surge due to improved defense under Doc Rivers

Antetokounmpo, who missed Monday night’s win at home against the Clippers because of left Achilles tendinitis, had 23 points and seven rebounds after he was questionable coming into the game.

“It takes a village to guard that guy and we needed everybody for sure,” Kerr said.

Lillard finished with 20 points with five 3-pointers and six assists in his first game back at Chase Center since being traded by the rival Trail Blazers to the Bucks last October. Bobby Portis also scored 20 for the Bucks.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, greets Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Green had two late 3-pointers and wound up with 12 points while Klay Thompson contributed 10 points off the bench as the Warriors led 78-58 at halftime, their biggest lead at intermission this season.

Milwaukee had a league-best defensive rating since the All-Star break but was handed its first loss in that span after winning six in a row out of the break — holding opponents below 110 points during that stretch and under 100 in four of those contests.

“I really didn’t think this was our defense, I thought it was our offense,” coach Doc Rivers said. “I didn’t think we played solid offense all night.”

READ: NBA: Steph Curry, Warriors beat Lakers team missing LeBron James

The Bucks missed a chance to tie their best winning streak of the season at seven, accomplished from Dec. 11-23. Milwaukee had won eight of 10 and beat the Warriors at home 129-118 on Jan 13.

Golden State started 11 for 16 with Curry hitting his first five shots with two 3s and the Warriors scored 40 points in the opening quarter for the second time this season, their ninth 40-point quarter overall. Their 15 points in the third matched a season low for any quarter.

Golden State outscored the Bucks 32-9 in the fourth.

The Bucks hadn’t been held to nine or fewer points in any quarter since scoring just eight in the first against Miami on Dec. 22, 2018 — and hadn’t been limited to nine or fewer in the final period since scoring nine against Toronto on Feb. 2, 2015, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Warriors bounced back after losing 140-88 in Boston on Sunday with Curry going 2 of 13 and 0 for 9 on 3-pointers.

Golden State forward Andrew Wiggins returned from a four-game absence to deal with a family matter and played just 14 minutes as the Warriors won for the 14th time in 18 games.

During a second-quarter timeout the Warriors recognized former general manager Bob Myers as he worked the broadcast, with his three daughters taking part in the festivities.

NEXT NBA SCHEDULE

Bucks: Continue their four-game California trip against the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday night.

Warriors: Host Bulls on Thursday night to complete a home-home back-to-back.