Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks cruised past the depleted New Orleans Pelicans 136-111 on Thursday night at Fiserv Forum.
Milwaukee improved to 46-34 and secured its sixth straight win behind a dominant second-half surge, maintaining momentum heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
Antetokounmpo’s streak of three consecutive triple-doubles came to an end, but the two-time MVP had the game under control before the fourth quarter began.
The Pelicans stayed close through the first two quarters, trailing by only eight at halftime despite fielding a rotation of just eight active players.
Lester Quinones led New Orleans with 21 points, while Jamal Cain and Keion Brooks Jr. each added 20.
The game shifted late in the third when the Bucks broke open an 89-80 lead with a 9-1 run, capped by a Gary Trent Jr. three-pointer and layup that stretched the margin to double digits.
Trent finished with 17 points off the bench, including 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc, helping Milwaukee close the period with a commanding advantage.
Kevin Porter Jr. contributed 20 points and seven assists in 23 minutes, directing the Bucks’ offense with efficiency and pace.
The Bucks shot 54.4% from the field and knocked down 18-of-45 from three-point range while assisting on 27 of their 49 made field goals.
Milwaukee also held a 43-38 edge on the glass and forced 16 turnovers, converting them into 22 fast-break points.
Bobby Portis provided 14 points and eight rebounds, and Ryan Rollins added 12 points in his first start of the season.
New Orleans, now 21-59, has dropped five straight and remains mired near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Eleven players were listed as inactive for the Pelicans, including Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Bruce Brown, and Trey Murphy III.
Despite the loss, several New Orleans reserves put up strong individual numbers, including Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Karlo Matkovic, who both recorded double-doubles with 15 points and 10 rebounds apiece.
The Bucks were without Damian Lillard and Jericho Sims, but their bench outscored New Orleans’ reserves 84-41.
Milwaukee outscored the Pelicans 74-57 in the second half and shot 66.7% from the free-throw line, converting 20 of their 30 attempts.
Taurean Prince, Brook Lopez, and AJ Green combined for 12 points, while Chris Livingston, Stanley Umude, and Andre Jackson Jr. saw late action in the blowout.
With Indiana’s win over Cleveland, the Pacers clinched the No. 4 seed in the East, meaning the Bucks can finish no higher than fifth.
Milwaukee can secure that fifth seed by winning one of its remaining two games, both of which are against Detroit on Friday and Sunday.
