Bucks 96, Grizzlies 86
MILWAUKEE -- Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 15 points and Greg Monroe added 14 as the Milwaukee Bucks extended the Memphis Grizzlies' losing streak to four games with a 96-86 victory Thursday at the Bradley Center.
Antetokounmpo, who remains Milwaukee's primary ball-handler, once again flirted with a triple-double by finishing with 11 assists and six rebounds while adding three blocks. But thanks to the surprisingly strong play of Milwaukee's second unit, he never even got the chance and watched from the bench as the Bucks' reserves took over in the final quarter.
Down five after three, the Bucks opened the fourth with a 15-2 run and went up six when Rashad Vaughn knocked down a 3-pointer with 6:40 to play.
Vaughn finished with five 3-pointers -- all in the fourth quarter. Milwaukee also got 11 points from Tyler Ennis and 10 from Damian Inglis as the Bucks' bench outscored Memphis 40-17.
Matt Barnes led the Grizzlies with 20 points but after hitting seven of his first nine shots and scoring 18 in the opening quarter, he went 0 for 8 the rest of the way.
Barnes also found himself locked up with Bucks forward John Henson late in the game. Henson was called for a flagrant-1 and technical after a hard foul on Barnes late in the fourth.
Henson again got tangled with Barnes in the closing seconds, when Henson blocked Barnes' final shot. That led to shoving and an ejection for Henson, who left the floor to a large ovation and Barnes took off running behind him a few moments later.
Lance Stephenson made his first start since joining the Grizzlies, a last-minute switch with point guard Briante Weber, and finished with 19 points.
The Grizzlies made only four field goals in the final quarter while Milwaukee blocked eight Memphis shots.
NOTES: Memphis G/F Vince Carter was unavailable Thursday. The 39-year-old, 18-season veteran missed a fourth game in a row because of a nagging calf strain. ... G Jared Cunningham was in uniform and available for Milwaukee. He signed a 10-day contract Wednesday as the Bucks looked for depth in the wake of season-ending injuries to PG Michael Carter-Williams, SG Steve Novak and SG O.J. Mayo. ... Milwaukee was also still without G Greivis Vasquez, who underwent surgery on his right ankle in December but returned to practice Wednesday. He hopes to play before the end of the regular season.