Milwaukee, Jan. 26 (BNA): Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ability to still make it to the free-throw line ensured the Milwaukee Bucks would hold up against the short-handed Denver Nuggets.
Antetokounmpo scored 33 points and 14 rebounds Wednesday night as the Bucks won 107-99 over the Nuggets, who were playing without two-time defending champion Nikola Jokic and three other regular players, the Associated Press reports.
Antetokounmpo went 15-of-22 from the line and had two career highs on free throw attempts. All but one of these free throw attempts came in the second half.
“I just tried to get to the edge, I tried to be as aggressive as I could, go downhill, play at the limit of my power,” Antetokounmpo said. “I tried to enjoy the game. I feel very closed off sometimes. I think I should be enjoying the game more. Usually when I enjoy the game more, I come back to the free throw line more, I start to slope more, I’m able to find my teammates and make better plays.” .”
Jokic made his comeback after missing two games and scored his fourth consecutive triple-double on Tuesday in a 99-98 win over New Orleans. He rested his hamstring on Wednesday instead of playing on back-to-back nights.
His absence spoiled a potential rivalry between the four MVP finalists. Antetokumpo won the award in 2019 and 2020.
The Nuggets leading the Western Conference were also missing Jamal Murray (left knee/injury management), Kentavius Caldwell Pope (right wrist) and Michael Porter Jr. (for personal reasons). Porter missed the third straight game.
“We didn’t get the result we wanted, but I saw a lot of great things from our group tonight that will help us move forward,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
Jrue Holiday had 20 points for the Bucks, who won despite committing 22 turnovers. Pat Connaughton scored a season-high 19 points, tied a career-high with 12 rebounds, and shot 7-of-8 overall and 5-of-6 on 3-point attempts.
Aaron Gordon scored 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets. Bones Hyland added 15 points.
While the Nuggets were missing most of their top players, the Bucks were also not at full strength.
Milwaukee’s Bobby Portez missed a game for the first time this season after injuring his right medial collateral ligament and right wrist Monday in a 150-130 victory over Detroit. The Bucks said Portis will be reevaluated in two weeks. Bucks freshman Margoun Beauchamp was out with patellar tendinitis in his right knee.
After trailing by 14 early in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets cut the Bucks’ lead to 94-89 on a Christian Brown 3-pointer with 5:01 left. The Bucks responded with five straight points and stayed ahead by at least seven, with Antetokounmpo leading 9-of-15 from the line going into the fourth quarter.
“It’s a challenge,” said Mallon. “The guy is great in transition. He’s great in the paint. And he’s the best in the NBA at making mistakes and living at the free throw line.”
Tip-ins
Nuggets: With injuries leaving the Nuggets below full strength, Vlatko Kankar made his first start of the season and third of his career, Brown made his second career, and Zeke Nagy made his fifth start of the season and seventh of his career.
Bucks: Coach Mike Budenholzer said Portis’ injury has not affected the condition of backup center Serge Ibaka, who is not with the team and has not played since January 1. Explore trade involving veteran 6-11. … Khris Middleton came off the bench for the second time in a row as he gradually made his comeback from a sore right knee. Middleton, who has played just nine games this season, scored 10 points in 15 minutes.
next one
Nuggets: Held in Philadelphia on Saturday in the first game of the season between the two teams.
Bucks: In Indiana on Friday. In their only previous meeting of the season, the Bucks beat the Pacers 132-119 in Milwaukee on January 16.