Giannis Antetokounmpo nets 44 as Bucks outlast Spurs
Jan 4, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) loses control of the ball while driving to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. credits: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 44 points including the deciding three-point play with 53.3 seconds to play as the visiting Milwaukee Bucks outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 125-121 on Thursday in a wild game that went back and forth in the final minutes.
The contest was the second game of road back-to-backs for the Bucks and they looked worse for the wear. But Milwaukee had enough left in the tank late to hold off the Spurs and snap a two-game losing streak.
The game was tied heading into the fourth quarter after San Antonio came from 11 points down early in the third. Devin Vassell's putback dunk with 3:41 to play in the game put the Spurs up by five points but Milwaukee responded with a 9-1 run capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Antetokounmpo.
Victor Wembanyama's block and 3-pointer re-tied the game with 1:09 left but Antetokounmpo answered with a dunk and a free throw. San Antonio's Tre Jones missed a corner 3-pointer that would have tied the game with 1.8 seconds left after which Pat Connaughton finished off the Spurs with a free throw.
Antetokounmpo also grabbed 14 rebounds and combined with Damian Lillard (25 points, 10 assists) to score 25 of the Bucks' final 26 points. Khris Middleton added 12 points all in the first half and Malik Beasley had 10 in the win.
Vassell led San Antonio with 34 points, two off his career high, while Wembanyama produced 27 points, nine rebounds and five blocks on his 20th birthday. Jones had 18 in his first start of the year, Keldon Johnson had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Cedi Osman hit for 13 points.
Milwaukee led by 13 points after Bobby Portis canned a reverse layup at the 5:55 mark of the opening period before the Spurs battled back to within 38-31 at the end of the first quarter.
San Antonio cut its deficit to one point when Vassell hit a floater with 4:57 to play in the second quarter. But Milwaukee held the home team at bay, never surrendering the lead and used a 3-pointer by Middleton with 28.6 seconds left to carry a 64-59 edge to the break.
Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 15 points before halftime while Middleton added a dozen for the Bucks. Vassell paced San Antonio with 14 points and Jones had 10 in the first half.
—Field Level Media