Spurs 123, Bucks 98
MILWAUKEE -- Tim Duncan rediscovered his offensive stroke, scoring 14 points in the San Antonio Spurs' 123-98 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Monday night at the Bradley Center.
The 19-year veteran was held scoreless for the first time in his career Saturday night against Houston, but against Milwaukee, Duncan hit 7 of 12 shots to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes.
Forward Kawhi Leonard led San Antonio with 24 points while forward LeMarcus Aldridge added 16 points with 11 rebounds, and point guard Patty Mills finished with 10 points and five assists starting in place of an injured Tony Parker.
Off the bench, the Spurs also got 18 points from guard Jonathan Simmons and 14 from center Boris Diaw.
All five Bucks starters scored in double figures. Shooting guard Khris Middleton led the way with 19 points, point guard Michael Carter-Williams had 16, center Greg Monroe added 15, forward Jabari Parker scored 14 and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had 11.
But the Bucks struggled to score in the second half after making 51 percent of their shots in the first two quarters.
Early on, the Bucks were red-hot; they shot 76 percent from the field and led, 30-29 after one quartet.
But a 17-1 run and nine first-half offensive rebounds -- contributing to 12 second-chance points -- sent the Spurs into the break up 11, 60-49.
Milwaukee was forced to play the second half short-handed after reserve guard Jerryd Bayless went to the locker room with a sprained left ankle.
Bayless had missed the Bucks' previous 19 games because of a sprain in the same ankle.
NOTES: Bucks SG O.J. Mayo was fined $25,000 by the league Monday for his outburst Saturday in Milwaukee's 95-85 victory at Minnesota. Mayo was ejected from the game in the first quarter after picking up two technical fouls, then charged after referee Eli Rose before finally leaving the court. ... The Spurs beat the Bucks 95-70 in San Antonio last month, and they have beaten Milwaukee eight times in a row. ... Bucks interim head coach Joe Prunty began his NBA coaching career as an assistant on San Antonio head coach George Popovich's staff from 1996-2005. ... Spurs PG Tony Parker did not travel with the team to Milwaukee as he recovers from right hip soreness. Parker's average of 12.4 points per game ranks third on the team, and he is sixth in the league with a 3.22 assist-to-turnover ratio.