Spurs handle struggling Bucks
MILWAUKEE – Dejounte Murray had 23 points and nine assists, and the San Antonio Spurs pulled away in the final minutes Saturday night for a 102-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks that snapped a fourgame losing streak.
Derrick White added 17 points and Bryn Forbes scored 16 against his former team to help the Spurs (2-4) take down the defending NBA champions on the road.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee (3-3) with 28 points and 13 rebounds but was in foul trouble in the second half. Khris Middleton had 19 points for the Bucks, who lost their second straight home game.
Keldon Johnson’s 3-pointer from the corner gave the Spurs a 92-85 lead with 2:22 left, and Murray scored the next five San Antonio points to extend the margin to 97-87 with 1:12 remaining.
The Bucks made just 10 of 39 attempts from 3-point range and shot 40.4% overall (36 of 89).
San Antonio held a slim lead for much of the first half, but a 3-pointer from Middleton and a fast-break dunk by George Hill allowed Milwaukee to tie the score at 34 with seven minutes left in the second quarter.
Milwaukee led 47-45 at halftime despite hitting just 18 of 44 field goals (40.9%) and going only 4 of 20 from 3-point distance. San Antonio made 18 of 50 field goals (36%) and was 5 of 18 on 3s.
Antetokounmpo and Middleton each had 11 points to lead the Bucks in the first half, and Hill added eight. White paced the Spurs with 14 points and Forbes had eight.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Forbes, who played with the Bucks last season, received his championship ring in a short ceremony before the game. He returned to San Antonio on a one-year deal prior to this season. Forbes averaged 10 points and shot 45.2% from 3-point range with Milwaukee, ranking third in the league. He hit seven 3-pointers in Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs against Miami. “What he did against Miami really stands out,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “He was a big factor in that series.” … Johnson, a thirdyear pro, played on the U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal in Tokyo this summer. “The Olympic thing was not expected by any of us or by him,” Spurs and USA coach Gregg Popovich said. “The competitiveness is seeping out of his pores. He needs more time. The will is there.”
Bucks: Semi Ojeleye was available and Bobby Portis rested so he can play in the second game of a backto-back set against Utah on Sunday. Both are returning from injuries. “We’ve just got to work our way through the weekend and keep them healthy and keep them progressing,” Budenholzer said . ... Point guard Jrue Holiday (left ankle sprain) should play soon but center Brook Lopez (back soreness) has no timetable to return, Budenholzer said.