MILWAUKEE (GCT) — Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the Milwaukee Bucks lineup in dominant fashion Saturday night, recording a triple-double with 42 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists to propel the Bucks to a 124-114 victory over the struggling Washington Wizards. This marks Milwaukee’s sixth consecutive win.
Antetokounmpo, who missed Tuesday’s NBA Cup win against Miami due to left knee swelling, has now achieved three triple-doubles in his last six games played. This includes a 22-point, 15-rebound, 12-assist performance in a narrow loss to Charlotte on November 16th and a 37-point, 10-rebound, 11-assist effort in a win over Indiana on November 22nd.
Damian Lillard contributed 25 points and 10 assists for the Bucks, while Brook Lopez added 18 points.
Jordan Poole led the Wizards with 31 points, and Malcolm Brogdon chipped in 29 points and 11 rebounds. Washington, now on a 14-game losing streak, played without Kyle Kuzma due to a left rib sprain.
Turning Point:
With the Wizards trailing 105-103 and under 4:30 remaining, Jordan Poole missed a three-pointer that would have given Washington the lead. The Bucks capitalized on the miss, going on a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach. During this crucial stretch, Poole committed a pair of turnovers and received a double technical foul along with Milwaukee’s Taurean Prince.
Key Performances:
Antetokounmpo’s 42 points came on an efficient 15-of-24 shooting from the field and 12-of-17 from the free-throw line.
Impact of the Win:
The Bucks, who started the season 2-8, have now climbed back to an above .500 record at 10-9.
Up Next:
Both teams are back in action for NBA Cup games on Tuesday night. The Bucks will visit Detroit, while the Wizards travel to Cleveland.
