Lopez dominates down stretch

Giannis also comes up big with triple-double

Milwaukee got back to its winning ways Sunday night at Fiserv Forum, beating Toronto, 118-111. The Bucks are 24-4 since Jan. 16, a stretch that now includes two wins against the Raptors.

The Bucks, who lost to the Indiana Pacers on March 16, have not lost two straight games since Jan. 14-16 in Miami. Milwaukee improved to 51-20 on the year while Toronto dropped to 3537.

Lopez, Bucks lock in late

The Bucks came into the game as the seventh-worst team in the NBA in taking care of the ball, turning it over 14.7 times per game. The Raptors were No. 2 in forcing turnovers, with teams giving it up 16.6 times.

After initially handling Toronto’s pressure early, Milwaukee finished the first quarter having given the ball away four times, leading to eight Raptors points. But the Bucks tightened up their ball handling in the second quarter with just one giveaway.

Reducing the turnovers was important, as the Raptors outscored the Bucks in second-chance points 7-0 in the first half. The 15 first-half points off additional chances helped Toronto keep pace with hot-shooting Milwaukee in the first half, trailing 58-56.

Milwaukee gave the ball away three times early in the third quarter, leading to five Toronto points that helped the Raptors take a 73-69 lead. By the start of the fourth quarter, Toronto led 95-89 and had 18 second-chance points (on eight offensive rebounds) and 15 points off 10 Bucks turnovers.

“We settled down, we got back in control,” Lopez said. “We talked about the third quarter-fourth quarter break, they just shot more times than us. We were shooting just as well if not better than them from two and three, we just had to take care of the ball and keep them off the offensive glass.”

The Bucks once again dialed in and didn’t allow any more second-chance points or points off turnovers in the final quarter. The Bucks gave it away just two more times in the final 12 minutes also, forcing the Raptors to have to make shots – and without the extra possessions they scored just 16 points in the final quarter.

“It’s very important against this team,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “We’ve battled with these guys a bunch of times. We know how they like to create turnovers, how they get into the ball. You’ve got to be strong with everything you do.”

Milwaukee turned it over just 12 times and allowed nine offensive rebounds. In fact, it was the Bucks forcing a couple of late turnovers that helped seal it.

On the offensive end, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double with 22 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and Middleton had 20 points, 8 rebound and 5 assists – but it was Brook Lopez’s dominant fourth quarter that set the Bucks up for victory.

The center scored 17 points in the quarter, opening with eight straight and closing with a pair of free throws. He imposed his will on both ends, blocking two shots and affecting the Raptors’ half-court offense all night.

Giannis sets record for most Bucks games

There aren’t many records left to set for Antetokounmpo.

When the ball became live Sunday night, Antetokounmpo broke Junior Bridgeman’s franchise record for most games played in Milwaukee with 712. Bridgeman played 711 games for the Bucks from 1975-84 and the 1986-87 season. He played in all 82 games three times and 81 in three others.

“It’s a great feeling,” Antetokounmpo said. “I wasn’t aware of it coming to the game. Great feeling. To feel like you’ve gave everything of the team and you’ve played the most games for the franchise. It’s been a long journey.

“But, there’s more. There’s more to be accomplished here, I believe. There’s more way to go. How Jae (Crowder) says it, chop wood, carry water – keep chopping word and carrying water and keep on moving forward and hopefully more compliments and accomplishments like that can come throughout the journey.”

Antetokounmpo’s career began in 2013, and he played in at least 80 games three seasons in a row from 2014-17. It is the 11th team record Antetokounmpo owns:

● Games*

● Minutes*

● Points

● Field goal attempts*

● Free throws

● Free throw attempts ● Defensive rebounds ● Assists*

● Blocks

● Turnovers ● Triple-doubles

Who do the Bucks play next?

Milwaukee hosts the San Antonio Spurs at 7 p.m. Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum. The Spurs beat the Bucks in Texas on Nov. 11, 111-93.

DE SISTI / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL MIKE Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo drives to the basket as Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) defends during the third quarter Sunday at Fiserv Forum.