Giannis Returns, and Bucks Defeat Nets 118-104 to Win Their 15th Straight Game

The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 118-104 on Tuesday night, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 33 points and 15 rebounds, extending their winning streak to 15 games.

For the Bucks, who went 10-0 in February and surpassed the Boston Celtics for the NBA’s best record, Jrue Holiday had 14 points and eight assists. After Antetokounmpo missed their win over Phoenix on Sunday due to a bruised right quadriceps, he was given back to them.

Khris Middleton had 18 points off the bench and added 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Brook Lopez also contributed. The Nets lost their third straight game and seventh in their previous nine after Milwaukee limited Brooklyn to 42 second-half points.

Mikal Bridges scored 31 points to lead Brooklyn. Cam Johnson contributed 19 points and seven rebounds, while Spencer Dinwiddie finished with 26 points and eight assists.

After trailing by 10 points at the break, the Bucks outscored the Nets 66-42 in the second half, using a 14-4 third-quarter run to tie the score at 68. Bridges responded to Milwaukee’s run with a 10-0 run of his own, but the Bucks outscored the Nets 39-23 in the third, including 18-7 over the final 5:04 after Antetokounmpo was sent to the bench after receiving his fourth foul.

Then, the No. 1 ranked Bucks. 1 in the By allowing 111.2 points per game, the NBA’s defense, which was ranked fourth in the league, increased its defense in the fourth quarter. In the fourth, Brooklyn made just 7 out of 23 shots, missing 9 in a row in a 4:23 period.

Early on, Brooklyn was aggressive in stopping Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee offense, leading to seven first-quarter and 12 first-half turnovers. Antetokounmpo had the same amount of field goals and turnovers in the first quarter (2), but the Nets turned that defense into offense by going on a 17-2 run to take a 15-point lead.

Brooklyn took a 62-52 lead into halftime thanks to Bridges’ 18 points, Johnson’s 15 points and six rebounds, and Dinwiddie’s 13 points and six assists in the first half.

TIP-INS

Only 4 of 12 attempts at the line were made by the Bucks (33.3%). … The fourth-longest winning streak in team history and the longest in the NBA this year both belong to Milwaukee. The second-longest winning streak this year belongs to Brooklyn (12, December). 7-Jan. 2).

Nets: Guard Edmond Sumner (personal) and forward Yuta Watanabe (back tightness) were both out due to injury. Forward Ben Simmons (left knee soreness) missed his third straight game.