Bucks send Nets to 16th home loss in row
NEW YORK -- Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks held on down the stretch for a 129-125 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who extended their home losing streak to 16 games and their overall skid to 14 games on Wednesday night.
Antetokounmpo rebounded nicely from being held under 10 points for the second time this season on Monday in a win over the Detroit Pistons. The All-Star forward made 13 of 25 shots, recorded his 13th game with at least 30 points and pulled down nine rebounds.
Greg Monroe added 25 points, helping Milwaukee get 68 points in the paint. Khris Middleton contributed a season-high 20 points in his fourth game back after missing the first 50 with a ruptured left hamstring.
Brooklyn's Brook Lopez scored a season-high 36 points and came within three of his matching his career-high point total. Lopez made six 3-pointers and shot 12 of 20 overall, but it was not enough as the Nets became the sixth team in NBA history to lose at least 16 consecutive home games.
Spencer Dinwiddie added a season-best 19 points and reserve Trevor Booker contributed 18 as the Nets shot 52.3 percent and fought back from a 13-point deficit.
The Bucks shot 56.8 percent from the floor.
Milwaukee encountered difficulties all night holding onto double-digit margins. The Bucks settled for a two-point lead at halftime after being up by 12, and they held a pair of 13 point-leads in the third.
Milwaukee was seemingly a few possessions away from finishing it off when it held a 113-101 edge on a jumper by Middleton with about 6 1/2 minutes remaining.
Instead, the Bucks wound up sweating out the finish of their third straight win.
It was 117-115 Milwaukee after Antetokounmpo missed a fadeaway and Lopez hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2:59 remaining.
A long jumper by Dinwiddie with 1:04 left made it 123-121. On the next possession, Antetokounmpo converted a layup with 47.4 seconds left.
Antetokounmpo nearly had a steal, but Middleton fouled Lopez with 28.2 seconds left. Lopez made both, and it was 125-123 Milwaukee.
After a Milwaukee timeout, Middleton was then fouled by Rondae-Hollis Jefferson with 19.8 seconds left and hit both free throws for a 127-123 edge.
Brooklyn then called a 20-second timeout, and Randy Foye tapped in his own miss with 13.9 left to get it to 127-125. With 11.8 seconds left, Middleton hit both free throws for a 129-125 edge, and the Nets called their penultimate timeout.
Lopez then missed a 3-pointer off an inbounds pass, and Milwaukee ran out the clock out.
NOTES: Brooklyn G Jeremy Lin (strained left hamstring) practiced for the first time Tuesday since getting reinjured Dec. 26. Lin is expected to return Feb. 24 in Denver. "That's good for all of our morale right now, our confidence that he's on the verge of coming back and he's anxious to come back and help the team," Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. ... Milwaukee G Jabari Parker (torn left ACL) underwent successful surgery. Parker's first surgery as a rookie was performed by New York Mets team physician David Altchek, but this procedure was performed by Dr. Robert LaPrade of Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo. ... Brooklyn G Sean Kilpatrick presented a gift card from Target to his former high school English teacher, Janet Warmbir, who taught him in White Plains, N.Y. ... Nets F Quincy Acy (sprained left ankle) missed his fifth consecutive game.