Williams, GG Jackson score 27 apiece as Grizzlies hang on for 113-110 win over Bucks
CLAY BAILEY
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Ziaire Williams and GG Jackson scored 27 points apiece, and the Memphis Grizzlies held on for a 113-110 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night in the last game for both teams before the All-Star break.
Vince Williams added 18 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for Memphis. Ziaire Williams’ points were a career high.
“It feels good,” Ziaire Williams said of the win over the No. 3 team in the Eastern Conference. “Proud of this team. We’ve been fighting our (tails) off every game. It’s good to see. One man falls down, and another one steps up. We’re just having fun.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 35 points and 12 assists, his 43rd double-double of the season. Damian Lillard finished with 24 points and seven assists. Bobby Portis added 15 points and Brook Lopez had 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, but coach Doc Rivers thought some of his players got caught looking ahead to the break.
“We had some guys here, and some guys in Cabo (San Lucas),” Rivers said.
Memphis held a ninepoint lead with 49 seconds left, but consecutive 3-pointers from Malik Beasley brought the Bucks within 113-110 with 29.2 left. Milwaukee had the last possession, but a scramble at midcourt for the ball took up a lot of the remaining clock, and Lillard’s 3-pointer at the horn was short as Memphis won its second
straight.
“I think (Lillard) just got caught up in traffic,” Rivers said.
Lillard said there was some miscommunication between he and Lopez that
started the last play in a bad direction.
“We did opposite things,” Lillard said, adding: “They just made a play on it, and it was loose and we didn’t end up getting a clean look.”