NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo breaks Bucks’ double-double mark vs. Spurs
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Damian Lillard scored 26 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the visiting San Antonio Spurs 121-105 in the NBA on Wednesday night.
Lillard also had eight assists, while Antetokounmpo added 16 rebounds and eight dimes for his 432nd career double-double, moving past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the top spot in Bucks history.
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Brook Lopez posted 22 points for Milwaukee, which set up its clinical win with a commanding 34-19 second quarter.
Keldon Johnson combined 24 points with 11 boards in 25 minutes off the bench for San Antonio, while Chris Paul contributed 18 points and seven assists.
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Victor Wembanyama had an unimpressive evening with 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting, though he added 10 rebounds and a game-high three blocked shots.
Wembanyama started well, leading the visitors to an early lead. The towering 21-year-old swatted an Antetokounmpo shot into the stands, knocked down a one-legged 3-pointer and hit an up-and-under circus shot.
Antetokounmpo responded to the challenge, throwing down four dunks in an 11-point opening quarter as Milwaukee rode a 10-0 burst to move ahead 31-27 going into the second period.
READ: NBA: Giannis Antetokoumpo, Bucks storm past Pacers
The Spurs reduced the gap to one point before Lillard, who was scoreless in the opening frame, piloted a 15-0 spree after a Bucks timeout.
The home side continued to have it all on their terms as they finished the half strongly.
San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson knocks the ball from Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
AJ Green followed a corner 3-pointer over Wembanyama with a 30-foot trey, and Antetokounmpo followed sinking a fadeaway by rejecting Devin Vassell’s attempted driving dunk.
Lopez’s fourth trey on the cusp of half-time then stretched Milwaukee’s advantage to 65-46.
Lillard’s step-back 3-pointer saw the Bucks’ advantage balloon to 70-49 before Paul paced a brief San Antonio fightback.
The veteran was aggressive from the perimeter, and his fifth 3-pointer in as many attempts trimmed the Spurs’ deficit to 80-72.
Milwaukee eased the lead back out to 91-78 with a quarter to play. The Bucks sprinted away in the fourth, with Gary Trent Jr. burying 4 of 4 from long range in the quarter as the margin topped out at 26 points. –Field Level Media
