Bucks 109, Nets 100
NEW YORK -- Giannis Antetokounmpo recoded a triple-double with 28 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 109-100 on Sunday.
Antetokounmpo nearly became the first player to get a triple-double in a half since Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd did it in the second half for the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 26, 2010. At halftime, the second-year forward had 12 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
He reached his 16th double-double by assisting on a 3-pointer by Khris Middleton with 10:59 left in the third quarter. Antetokounmpo notched his fourth triple-double by rebounding a missed 8-footer by Brook Lopez with 4:26 remaining.
Jabari Parker added 23 points as the Bucks (29-38) won their fourth in a row. Middleton contributed 19 and Greg Monroe had 14.
Lopez scored 20 points for the Nets in their first home game in three weeks. Sean Kilpatrick added 19 as Brooklyn (18-48) lost its fourth straight by committing 21 turnovers and giving up 66 points in the paint.
Antetokounmpo sat for the first 3:15 of the fourth and the Nets hiked their lead to 90-84. Antetokounmpo reached 20 points for the 20th time with a driving finger roll at the 7:41 mark, cutting the deficit to 91-89.
While stuck at nine rebounds, Antetokounmpo helped the Bucks inch closer. He had a transition dunk with 5:10 left to cut the deficit to 96-95, and on the next possession, Milwaukee evened it at 96 on a free throw by Miles Plumlee (12 points).
The Nets took a 98-97 lead on a 20-footer by Kilpatrick with 4:09 left, but about a minute later, Antetokounmpo spun through the lane and fed Plumlee for a reverse dunk and a 99-98 lead.
With just over two minutes remaining, Antetokounmpo stole a pass from Lopez and appeared headed for another dunk before getting fouled. He split a pair at the line for a 100-98 lead.
After Parker forced another turnover, Antetokounmpo hit a reverse layup with 1:41 left. Kilpatrick missed a 3-pointer, and Middleton sealed the win with a left wing 3-pointer with 61 seconds remaining. Monroe followed with a layup.
NOTES: Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd made his first visit to Brooklyn since GM Billy King was fired Jan. 10. Asked about the recent changes, Kidd, a former Nets coach, said: "I can't pay attention to that. I got my own issues." ... Brooklyn G Wayne Ellington (upper respiratory) sat out. ... The Bucks had plane trouble getting to New York for Sunday's game. Instead of flying out after Saturday's win over New Orleans, the Bucks spent Saturday night in Milwaukee and flew out Sunday morning. ... Kidd said he didn't know F Khris Middleton was two assists shy of a triple-double when he took him out Saturday. He said he told Middleton he "owes him one." ... C Brook Lopez is the remaining Net from Kidd's one season coaching the team in 2013-14.