© Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
The Bucks end two-game losing streak with a win over the Timberwolves
The Milwaukee Bucks came out of the All-Star break with a statement win, ending a two-game losing streak with a big 112-107 victory over the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 33 points and 13 rebounds as the Bucks dealt the Timberwolves just their sixth home loss in the season.
A much-needed win
Milwaukee improved to 4-7 under coach Doc Rivers and 36-21 on the season. The loss put the Timberwolves in a tie with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Western Conference-leading 39-17 record. The Thunder caught up with the Timberwolves after they routed the Washington Wizards earlier Friday, 147-106.
Milwuakee also improved to 13-14 on the road as it avenged its 105-129 loss to Minnesota on February 8th, knotting the two-game regular-season series at one game apiece.
Damian Lillard flirted with a triple-double for Milwaukee as he finished with 21 points, ten assists, nine rebounds, two steals, and a block. Lillard shot just 8 of 23 from the field but hit a jumper that gave the Bucks a five-point lead with 10 seconds left.
Pivotal third-quarter run
Brook Lopez added 16 points, while Malik Beasley tallied 14, all in the third period, where the Bucks outscored the Timberwolves 36-13. The Bucks trailed at the half, 51-57, but the third-quarter explosion allowed them to overtake the Timberwolves going into the fourth quarter.
Coming into the contest as winners of four straight games, Minnesota mounted a huge rally in the payoff period as a three-pointer by Anthony Edwards put them within 107-110 with 32 seconds to go. Lillard shut the door on Minnesota when he dropped a 21-footer in the final 10.3 seconds.
Edwards led the Timberwolves with 28 points, and KAT added 22. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Rudy Gobert chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.
