Oklahoma City, March 9 (BUS): Giannis Antikonmo scored 39 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 142-115 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight win.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer doesn’t want to mess with something good. Milwaukee averages 128.4 points and shoots 49% from the field during its winning streak, the AP reports.
“I just want them to keep playing,” he said. “I don’t want to let them down. I will stay out of their way.”
Antetokounmpo made 13 of 19 shots, seven rebounds and seven assists. Budenholzer said Antentokounmpo continues to dominate without forcing things, and that helps the team.
“If a team wants to throw extra bodies at him and turn him into a passing player, he’s more than willing, more than capable,” Budenholzer said. “And the guys portray it well.”
Chris Middleton scored 25 points and nine assists, and Bobby Portez added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Bucks, who scored the highest point of the season and fired 53% (53 for 100) from the field.
Shay Giljus Alexander scored 33 points, scored 14 assists and eight rebounds for Thunder. It was the sixth time in seven games since the All-Star break that Giljus Alexander had scored at least 30 points.
Oklahoma City Thunder
“He’s just a great player,” said Budenholzer. “We were talking about it back in the locker room after the match. It’s impressive. The ball in his hands is a ton, but he’s still playing right.”
The Thunder has allowed at least 120 points five times in seven games since the All-Star break. Thunder coach Mark Denniault said his team could do better.
“We are capable, but it takes sharper execution, better effort, more teamwork and more competitiveness in order to maintain this level,” he said.
Antetokounmpo exhausted 30 feet into the first half bell to give the Bucks a 76-65 lead in the first half. Previously known as just a player who scored around the basket, he had the confidence to leave his wrist in the air well after hitting the ball.
“I shot a lot of deep goals in a game,” he said. “It’s one of those days that I’m in. It feels good to have been working on it for a while now.”
Antetokounmpo scored 18 points in the first half and helped the Bucks shoot 59.2% from the field. Oklahoma City shot 58.5% before the break. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder team with 21 points and seven assists.
The Bucks opened the second half with a quick 9-2 and led 105-93 heading into the fourth.
Antetokonmo scored seven points in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. He put his $3 index up 115-96.
Hint
Bucks: J. Grayson Allen missed the match due to left thigh soreness. …Former Thunder striker Serge Ibaka scored 14 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes. Fans greeted him warmly when he checked in during the first quarter. … is down two points from his season high for points in the inning with 76 in the first.
Thunder: Gilgus Alexander drained a 28-foot-3 3-pointer with 5.0 seconds left in the first quarter to lock in 13 points and 6 assists in the opening period. … Rookie Lindy Waters scored a third 16 points in her career. … Rookie Ji Tri Man left the match early, apparently due to an ankle injury. He came back and finished the season with 11 points in 29 minutes.
Injury update
Oklahoma City’s Lou Duort will miss the rest of the season after he underwent surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left shoulder. The team announced that Durt is joining reserves Ty Jerome and Mike Moskala as Thunder players who underwent procedures on Tuesday.
An established defensive goalkeeper, Durt has upped his attacking game this season and has averaged 17.2 points. The team said that it is expected to return to full capacity basketball before next season.
Hotspot
Gilgeous-Alexander has been instrumental during his recent surge. He shoots 57.1% from the field and has fired at least 50% in five out of seven games since the All-Star break. He also averaged 7.7 assists and 6.3 rebounds during that time.
STAT lines
The Bucks beat the Thunder 53-36, and beat Oklahoma City 15-5 on second chance points.
next one
Bucks: Host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
Thunder: Visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.