NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 40, Bucks high Mavericks

Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo argues with Dallas Mavericks’ Grant Williams throughout the first half of an NBA basketball sport Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Picture/Morry Gash)

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 40 factors and Damian Lillard added 27 for the Milwaukee Bucks, who prolonged their successful streak to 4 video games with a 132-125 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night time.

“It was an ideal character win,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin mentioned. “Again-to-back, shorthanded … however everybody stepped up and it was a complete crew win.”

Antetokounmpo was averaging 41.3 factors in his final three video games earlier than being held to 16 Friday night time in Charlotte. Towards the Mavericks, he related on 18 of 26 pictures together with a pair of 3-pointers and grabbed 14 rebounds to go together with seven assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was a FORCE within the Bucks’ win over the Mavericks 💪

🔥 40 PTS
🔥 15 REB
🔥 69% FG pic.twitter.com/2isffUIXcN

— NBA (@NBA) November 19, 2023

Throughout that very same five-game stretch, Lillard is averaging 27.4 factors and with 12 assists Saturday night time, has 30 over his final three video games.

“Each sport that goes by, I’m going to be extra comfy (enjoying with Lillard),” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “As we transfer ahead, we’re going to continue learning the right way to play with each other. It’s getting higher. It’s a piece in progress.”

Milwaukee’s streak regarded prefer it might need been in jeopardy heading into the second-half of a back-to-back with no vital chunk of Griffin’s standard rotation together with Khris Middleton, MarJon Beauchamp and Jae Crowder.

However the Bucks’ restricted bench stepped up in an enormous means, combining for 46 factors on 18-of-32 capturing whereas accounting for 10 of Milwaukee’s 17 3-pointers together with 4 from Pat Connaughton who completed with a season-high 16 factors and performed the ultimate 20 minutes.

Kyrie Irving scored 39 whereas Luka Doncic added 35 for Dallas (9-4).

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic COMBINED for 74 PTS in a thriller in Milwaukee 🤯

Kyrie Irving: 39 PTS, 6 AST, 4 REB

Luka Doncic: 35 PTS, 9 AST, 9 REB pic.twitter.com/xjMTECnXBI

— NBA (@NBA) November 19, 2023

Milwaukee trailed 109-99 with 9:04 left within the sport earlier than happening a 13-4 run, together with seven from Antetokounmpo to get again inside a degree with 5:17 remaining.

The Bucks caught a break when Doncic missed a pair of free throws that might have given Dallas some respiratory room. Antetokounmpo adopted by sinking a pair from the road that put Milwaukee up 114-113 whereas Lillard related on all three of his free throw makes an attempt after being fouled by Irving to push the Bucks’ result in 4 with 4:34 remaining.

“At the moment within the sport, you must have the ball within the palms of a superb decision-maker,” Lillard mentioned. “I simply really feel like I can get it executed at the moment, whether or not I’m scoring, making a play or getting fouled and going to the free throw line.”

The Mavericks bought inside 127-125 on Irving’s three-point play with 1:26 left, however Pat Connaughton hit a 3-pointer 21 seconds later and Dallas, which hit simply 3 of 15 3-point makes an attempt whereas getting outscored 43-27 within the closing quarter, couldn’t get well.

“We’ve made these pictures previously,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd mentioned. “We bought nice seems, they simply went out and in however you’ll be able to’t quit 40-plus factors within the fourth quarter and count on to win.”

UP NEXT

Mavericks: Sunday, vs. Sacramento

Bucks: Monday, at Washington.