Bucks edge Wizards to earn 4th straight win
MILWAUKEE – Playing for the second straight night, the Milwaukee Bucks hung tough after Giannis Antetokounmpo fouled out in a 135134 victory over the surging Washington Wizards.
Jrue Holiday scored 29 points Wednesday night to help the Bucks with their fourth straight while withstanding a 42-point performance from Bradley Beal and a triple-double from Russell Westbrook.
“It took a little bit of everybody to find a way to win this game,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.
Westbrook had 29 points, 17 assists and 12 rebounds for his 179th career triple-double, but the Wizards still lost for just the fourth time in their last 17 games. He’s just two shy of Oscar Robertson, whose 181 career triple-doubles are the highest recorded total in NBA history.
The Bucks led 127-124 when Antetokounmpo picked up his sixth foul with 1:54 left. They played the entire game without two-time All-Star Khris Middleton, who was out with a sore left knee after playing one night earlier in a 124-118 victory over Brooklyn.
They still found a way to win.
“It’s big for us,” said Donte DiVincenzo, who had 19 points. “I think it’s a big thing for us to come together and know we can pull it out in different ways.”
Pat Connaughton had 16 points and made a pair of 3-pointers in the final 90 seconds to answer Wizards baskets. Bryn Forbes added 14 and put the Bucks ahead for good by sinking a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2:23 remaining.
UP NEXT
Wizards: Face the Toronto Raptors on Thursday in Tampa, Florida, as they try to avoid getting swept in the regular-season series.
Bucks: Host the Houston Rockets on Friday as they try to gain revenge after falling 143-136 in Houston on April 29.