© Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Giannis Antetokounmpo's 40 helps the Milwaukee Bucks rally past the Dallas Mavericks
Giannis Antetokounmpo turned in a monster performance to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 132-125 come-from-behind win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night at the Fiserv Forum.
Giannis finished 40 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block as the Bucks secured their fourth-straight win to improve to 9-4.
Greek Freak went to work
Antetokounmpo, who now has scored 30 or more six times this season, helped seal Milwaukee’s fifth straight win at home by scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter. The Bucks outscored the Mavericks 43-27 in the final 12 minutes, completing their comeback from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Damian Lillard had his second double-double in three games as he added 27 points and 12 assists.
The Khris Middleton-less Bucks got major production from their bench, with Pat Connaughton dropping 16 points and Bobby Portis Jr. and Cameron Payne chipping in 11 markers apiece.
Kyrie Irving scored 39 points, and Luka Doncic had 35, but the Mavericks suffered their fourth loss in 13 games.
Milwaukee mounts huge endgame rally
Dallas entered the final period with a 98-89 lead and was up by 11 after a three-pointer by Tim Hardaway Jr. The Bucks then mounted a huge run and took the lead when Antetokounmpo hit two free throws with 5:06 left, marking the game’s sixth lead change.
The lead stayed with Milwaukee from that point on as Damian Lillard hit three free throws that stretched the Bucks’ lead to 117-113.
The Mavericks moved within 117-120, but Brook Lopez sank two free throws, and after Doncic's missed shot, Connaughton hit a corner three-pointer that made it 125-117 for the Bucks with 2:54 to go.
Dallas made it a two-point game when Irving converted a three-point play, but Connaughton delivered another crucial triple, extending Milwaukee’s lead to 130-125 with only 1:05 left.
