Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a dominant performance with 34 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 118-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Milwaukee and improved their record to 12-11.
Damian Lillard contributed 15 points and 11 assists despite his streak of six consecutive 25-point games coming to an end. Bobby Portis added 23 points off the bench, including a clutch three-pointer late in the fourth quarter that put the Bucks ahead for good.
Dennis Schroder led the Nets with 34 points and 10 assists, continuing his strong form against Milwaukee this season. Cam Johnson scored 26 points, while Nic Claxton added 21 points and nine rebounds. The loss marked Brooklyn’s fourth in five games, dropping them to 10-14.
Brooklyn held a narrow 108-104 lead with 3:08 left after a Schröder jumper, but Milwaukee closed the game strong. The Bucks scored 15 of the last 20 points, fueled by critical contributions from Khris Middleton and Portis. Middleton, playing just his third game this season after ankle surgery, tallied seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Milwaukee showcased efficiency on both ends, shooting 57.4% from the field and hitting 15 three-pointers at a 48.4% clip. Portis went a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc, and Antetokounmpo recorded his league-leading 14th game with at least 30 points.
The Nets started slow offensively, shooting just 36.4% in the first quarter, but rallied to shoot 56% over the final three periods. Schröder and Johnson carried the scoring load, but Brooklyn struggled defensively in crunch time.
The Bucks’ defense, which had held opponents below 50% shooting for 15 straight games, saw the Nets break that streak by shooting 50.6% from the field. Milwaukee is now 1-3 in games where opponents shoot over 50%.
Lillard managed the offense effectively despite a quiet scoring night, while Gary Trent Jr. provided a spark off the bench with 20 points. Milwaukee’s reserves outscored Brooklyn’s bench 60-20, a critical factor in the win.
Brooklyn continues to rely on Schroder’s scoring, as he surpassed 30 points for the third time this season. The veteran guard has been a bright spot for a team that is now 4-13 against Eastern Conference opponents.
