Bucks stop three-game slide with 93-89 win
MILWAUKEE -- Giannis Antetokounmpo posted his first triple-double of the season and Jabari Parker made five 3-pointers as the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 93-89 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night at the Bradley Center.
Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and added five steals and three blocked shots.
Parker had 22 points to lead the Bucks, who shot 40.7 percent from the floor and were 8 of 29 on 3-point attempts.
Serge Ibaka hit 6 of 11 shots from the flor to lead Orlando with 21 points while grabbing eight rebounds and blocking three shots. Evan Fournier finished with 18 points and Bismack Biyombo added 13 off the bench for the Magic, who shot 42.1 percent from the floor and were 7 of 24 from beyond the arc.
Orlando got off to a quick start and opened the game connecting at a 69 percent clip to take a 22-8 lead. Matthew Dellavedova struggled early, committing five turnovers in the first quarter alone.
The Bucks got their bearings when coach Jason Kidd replaced Antetokounmpo and Parker with veteran reserves Michael Beasley and Jason Terry.
That move paid off as Beasley hit five of six shots from the field for 10 of his 14 points in the quarter, getting Milwaukee back in the game. In the second quarter, the Bucks fed off a series of magic miscues and took a 42-41 lead on a running dunk from Greg Monroe.
With Milwaukee up five at the half, Parker hit four 3-pointers in the third, shaking the Bucks out of another slump, but Orlando closed the quarter on a 12-0 run and went into the fourth up 74-69.
Antetokounmpo's dunk with 9:50 left tied the score at 76. Antetokounmpo found Mirza Teletovic open on the Bucks' next two possessions to swing the lead back in the Bucks' favor, making it 81-76 with 8:42 remaining.
NOTES: Bucks coach Jason Kidd said he has seen some positive things from his team despite bringing a three-game losing streak into the game. "The last three games we've done some good things," Kidd said. "It's a matter of doing them for 48 minutes. You take our last game, our energy and effort was half of 48 minutes. Learning how to be consistent is something we've got to try and do starting tonight." ... Orlando SG Jodie Meeks remains sidelined while recovering from surgery to repair a fractured right foot. Meeks, originally drafted by the Bucks in 2009, has yet to play this season. ... Milwaukee and Orlando split their season series a year ago with each time winning twice on its own home court. The Bucks had won seven of their last eight meetings with the Magic at the Bradley Center.