[1/49]November 24, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots during warmups before the game against the Washington Wizards at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports Acquisition of licensing rights
November 25 – Brook Lopez, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard each scored 30 points as the Milwaukee Bucks improved to 3-0 on the season with a 131-128 win over the visiting Washington Wizards.
It is the first game in Bucks franchise history in which three players had 30 points or more. Lopez tied his career high with 39, while Antetokounmpo (nine rebounds) and Lillard (10 assists) each had 31.
Washington had four 20-point scorers, led by Milwaukee native Jordan Poole with 26 and seven assists. Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones each added 22 while Corey Kispert scored 20.
The Wizards went into the halftime break with a 61-60 lead, thanks in part to their 3-point shooting. The Bucks shot 54.3 percent from the floor in the half, but the Wizards made nine 3-pointers compared to the Bucks’ five.
Kispert led the Wizards at halftime with 15 points off the bench, shooting 5-for-7 from beyond the arc. Antetokounmpo had 15 to lead Milwaukee.
One big development included the Bucks’ Khris Middleton, who left in the third quarter with a strained left Achilles. Middleton has been unable to play in back-to-back games this season in an effort to manage his knee that was repaired last offseason.
With Middleton out, the trio of Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Lopez accounted for all 32 points the team scored in the third quarter: 7 from Antetokounmpo, 10 from Lillard and 15 from Lopez.
The trio continued to flourish in the fourth, especially Lopez. A one-and-one layup by Lopez put the Bucks up six with less than two minutes to play after the game was within one possession for much of the second half.
However, the Wizards gave themselves a chance. Antetokounmpo lost the ball going up for a second-chance layup in the final minute, leading to a Kuzma 3-pointer at the other end. That brought Washington within one point with 16.9 seconds to play.
Antetokounmpo then made two free throws after a foul and Landry Sammet floated a wide-open, potential game-tying 3-pointer at the other end, allowing the Bucks to close it out.
Milwaukee improved to 2-0 against Washington this season and remained atop Eastern Group B. The Wizards’ losing streak extended to eight games.
–Within field level
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.