NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s latest big night leads Bucks past Timberwolves
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half of a game at Fiserv Forum on December 30, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. N Stacy Revere/Getty Images/AFP
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 43 points and 20 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 123-114 win over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Bobby Portis Jr. had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Joe Ingles recorded season highs with 14 points and 10 assists for the Bucks, who trailed by 11 at the break. Brook Lopez contributed 13 points and four blocks, while Jevon Carter had 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Minnesota lost its fifth straight game despite the efforts of Anthony Edwards, who had 30 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. Luka Garza, Jaylen Nowell and Naz Reid added 16 apiece, while D’Angelo Russell had 15 points and seven assists.
Reid added seven rebounds while starting in place of center Rudy Gobert, who sat out with a non-COVID illness.
After being held to 17 points in the second quarter, Milwaukee outscored the Wolves 39-22 in the third. Antetokounmpo had 15 points in the period to lead the Bucks’ surge.
Portis recorded his 20th double-double of the season and hit one of his two 3-pointers during a 19-9 run to close the third quarter.
43 PTS
20 REB
5 ASTGiannis is the first player to drop back-to-back 40/20 games since 1982. pic.twitter.com/m1WT6xUjPu
— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2022
Milwaukee led 89-83 to start the fourth period and stretched its lead to 105-89 with 7:31 remaining after Grayson Allen and AJ Green hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
Edwards, who scored at least 20 points for the seventh consecutive contest, was able to stay in the game following a hard fall late in the fourth quarter. He scored four straight points to cut the deficit to 110-102 with 3:46 left.
Antetokounmpo has scored 40-plus points in four of his last six games for Milwaukee, which led by six before Allen’s trey sealed the victory with 35.4 seconds remaining.
Both teams set the tone early with a high-scoring first quarter. Minnesota led 34-33 after shooting 58.3 percent.
The Wolves took a 61-50 lead into the half after holding the Bucks to 34.6 percent shooting from the field and 13.6 percent (3 of 22) from 3-point range. Antetokounmpo had 22 points in the first half to lead all scorers.
Milwaukee played without forward Khris Middleton (sore right knee) and guard Jrue Holiday, who missed his second straight game due to a non-COVID illness.
