© Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
The Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks take down the Phoenix Suns
Giannis Antetokounmpo was out, but the Milwaukee Bucks shot the lights out to pull off a convincing 140-129 win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Firepower was not a problem even if the Bucks played without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat out due to hamstring soreness. It hardly mattered as Milwaukee shot an impressive 24-of-41 (58%) from three-point land to seal its fourth straight win at home.
Milwaukee avenged its 106-114 loss to Phoenix in their first meeting this season, scoring a second straight that triumph hiked its record to 44-24. The Bucks improved to 27-7 at home this season.
Decisive second-quarter run
The Bucks ended the first quarter with a slim 39-36 lead after the first quarter but broke the game wide open with a huge second-quarter explosion. Milwaukee scored a season-high 43 points in the second period to build a fat 82-60 lead. The first-half output was a season-high for the Bucks.
Milwaukee brought a 109-94 lead into the fourth period. Phoenix rallied within 115-122, but Milwaukee responded as a three-pointer by Damian Lillard gave the Bucks a 134-120 lead with only 3:18 left.
Too much firepower
Lillard and Bobby Portis Jr. were superb in the win, finishing with double-double performances. Lillard tallied 31 points and 16 assists, while Portis piled up 31 points and ten rebounds coming off the bench.
Khris Middleton also gave the Bucks a huge lift in his return from a 16-game absence, tallying 22 points, seven assists, and three boards in 25 minutes of play. All Milwaukee starters scored in double figures, with Jae Crowder, Malik Beasley, and Brook Lopez chipping in 18, 17, and 10 points, respectively.
Portis and Beasley each had five triples, while Lillard and Crowder had four apiece.
Bradley Beal led the Suns with 28 points, Grayson Allen added 25, and Devin Booker had 23. Kevin Durant scored just 11 points as he only attempted ten shots from the field and made four as the Suns fell to 39-29.
