Antetokounmpo scores 28 as Bucks past Clippers 137-113
Take a 60-51 advantage at halftime.
OS ANGELES — While most teams are looking ahead to next week’s All-Star break, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are trying to correct some bad habits they hope won’t trip them up in the playoffs.
LIf the first two games of their Western Conference road trip are any indication, the defending NBA champions are on the right track. The Bucks had another dominating third quarter as they pulled away to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 137-113 Sunday night.
“I enjoy playing in January and February. This is where you have to get some wins, come out, set a tone and play good games,” said Antetokounmpo, who had 28 points and 10 rebounds. “The last couple games have been fun. Guys are playing and shooting well.”
Antetokounmpo was one of three players with a double-double. Los Angeles native and former UCLA standout Jrue Holiday added 27 points and 13 assists and Bobby Portis had 24 points with 11 rebounds.
It is the first time since last April the Bucks have had three players with at least 24 points in a regular-season game.
Milwaukee led 60-53 early in the third before it went on a 19-3 run over a 2 1/ 2 minute span to put the game out of reach. Pat Connaughton made four of his six 3-pointers during the spurt and Middleton scored five points.
The Clippers went on a 17-2 run late in the third and early in the fourth to get within nine, before the Bucks responded with a pair of spurts over the remaining nine minutes. Milwaukee’s largest lead was 26 points late in the fourth quarter as they won for the seventh time in nine games.
The Bucks — who tied a season high in points — shot 54.5% from the field (48 of 88) and were 19 of 38 from beyond the arc.
The Clippers led 3228 at the end of the first quarter and scored the first five points of the second quarter before the Bucks tied it at 37 with nine straight points.
Milwaukee had a 5349 lead before scoring seven of the final nine points of the first half to
( AP)