Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard will get previous San Antonio Spurs’ Tre Jones throughout the second half of an NBA basketball recreation Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Milwaukee. The Bucks received 132-119. (AP Picture/Morry Gash)
MILWAUKEE — Damian Lillard scored a season-high 40 factors to push his NBA profession complete over 20,000, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double and the Milwaukee Bucks trounced San Antonio 132-119 on Tuesday night time because the Spurs performed with out Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama sat out the sport with a sore proper ankle. This was solely the second recreation the 7-foot-3 rookie has missed.
“I don’t suppose we’re anticipating it to be long-term or something,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich mentioned earlier than the sport.
Antetokounmpo had a career-high 16 assists, 14 rebounds and a season-low 11 factors for his thirty seventh profession triple-double, and second this season. His different triple-double got here in a 132-121 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 2.
Lillard elevated his profession level complete to twenty,034 and have become the 51st individual in NBA historical past — and eighth lively participant — to succeed in 20,000 factors. Lillard, who was enjoying his 794th profession recreation, turned the Seventeenth-fastest participant to succeed in that milestone.
Dame was cookin’.
40 PTS | 7 3PM | 4 AST | 3 STL pic.twitter.com/YNLUDoqaKF
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 20, 2023
The opposite lively gamers with at the least 20,000 factors are LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan and Chris Paul.
Milwaukee has gone 5-0 throughout this season-long, six-game homestand that concludes Thursday in opposition to the Orlando Magic. The Bucks have received their final 14 video games at Fiserv Discussion board for his or her longest dwelling successful streak since reeling off 20 straight victories in Milwaukee from April 19, 1990, to Jan. 8, 1991.
Bobby Portis added 23 factors and 10 rebounds, Khris Middleton scored 17 factors and Brook Lopez had 14 factors and 6 blocks for the Bucks.
Keldon Johnson had 28 factors and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, whereas Zach Collins added 22 factors and Devin Vassell had 17.
The Spurs have misplaced 20 of their final 21 video games.
Lillard entered the night time with 19,994 factors and reached 20,000 by making a layup lower than 4 minutes into the sport. Lillard ended up scoring 19 factors within the opening interval.
After a basket from Collins opened the scoring, the Bucks pulled forward for good by occurring a 21-1 run that ended halfway via the primary quarter.
San Antonio trailed by 22 early within the second quarter however clawed again and obtained the margin to single digits when Johnson’s putback made it 74-66 with 10:37 left within the third. The Bucks outscored San Antonio 15-6 over the following 3 ½ minutes and weren’t threatened once more.
Portis and San Antonio’s Jeremy Sochan every acquired technical fouls after getting snarled early within the fourth quarter.
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Spurs: Go to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Bucks: Host the Magic on Thursday.