Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks with 33 points to a 129-118 win over the depleted Golden State Warriors, fueled by a strong fourth-quarter performance during Saturday’s NBA action.
Sitting at 18-21 for the season, the Warriors chose to rest Stephen Curry following a back-to-back road game and also missed Draymond Green. Coach Steve Kerr hinted at Green’s possible return in the upcoming games against Memphis or Utah.
Key contributions for the Bucks came from Damian Lillard with 27 points and Khris Middleton, who scored 24 points, including a crucial 13 in the fourth quarter, and dished out 10 assists. Milwaukee’s impressive shooting in the final quarter (70%) was pivotal in outscoring the Warriors 46-37.
“We were able to get stops and force them into tougher shots,” Middleton said. “I think we did a great job with that in the fourth quarter, pushing the pace a little bit and making sure we get the greatest shot.”
Jonathan Kuminga led Golden State’s offense with 28 points, and rookie Brandin Podziemski impressed with 23 points and 10 assists on efficient shooting. Klay Thompson added 21 points for the Warriors.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors Updates
Bucks rookie Andre Jackson Jr. marked his first professional double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, making significant hustle plays. He credited his improvement to watching more game film and aiming to score more effectively.
“I’m watching a lot more film, and coaches are sending me a lot more clips,” Jackson said. “I’m just looking for my scoring more in that dunker spot, make the defense be more honest and open up the game more for those superstar players I’ve got on my team.”
A notable moment was Jackson’s block on Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis, leading to Lillard’s 3-pointer and a Bucks’ lead in the third quarter. The fourth quarter saw Middleton and Antetokounmpo step up, helping Milwaukee improve their record to 27-12 and maintain a strong home performance at the Fiserv Forum.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors Updates
Coach Kerr acknowledged the Warriors’ effort in a challenging back-to-back scenario, noting the game slipped away in the fourth quarter when the Bucks scored 46 points.
“I thought our guys competed really hard, a tough back-to-back playing against a great team,” Kerr said. “We gave a great effort. The game slipped away from us in the fourth; they scored 46 points. I thought we had decent defensive control of the game until the fourth, and they got loose.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors Updates
Lillard’s performance, including 9-19 shooting and perfect free-throw shooting, was a testament to the Bucks’ ability to have explosive stretches. However, he emphasized the rarity of such high-scoring quarters.
“I think that just shows our ability,” Lillard said. “We can have stretches like that. It’s understanding the beauty of that but not leaning on that too much because it’s not too often you can go into a quarter and say we’re going to make 19 field goals. That doesn’t happen often, no matter how good you are.”
The Bucks started strong with a first-quarter lead, but the Warriors bounced back for a halftime advantage. Curry, who had played extensively in the previous game against Chicago, was given a rest due to exhaustion, as explained by Kerr.
“He’s just wiped out right now,” Kerr said. “We’ve been relying on him heavily and (he has played) a lot of games. He’s just worn out so he needs the night off.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors Updates
Green, who was reinstated by the league after a suspension, is expected to return soon, having been working out regularly and feeling good about his progress.
Looking ahead, the Warriors will face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, while the Bucks are set to host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
