The finish of the common season is in sight for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks prevented a late-season slip-up by cruising to a 140-128 victory over the short-handed Washington Wizards on Tuesday at Capital One Arena in Washington.
Milwaukee (57-22) moved nearer to clinching the No. 1 seeding within the Eastern Conference playoffs with three video games remaining within the common season. With the Boston Celtics shedding to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Bucks’ “magic quantity” was reduce to at least one and Milwaukee can lock down the highest spot on Wednesday.
BOX SCORE: Bucks 140, Wizards 128
“Every day is a piece day,” Bucks ahead Bobby Portis stated. “No days off.
“It’s a blessing to be within the NBA. It’s a blessing to placed on a NBA jersey, to make some huge cash to maintain your fam.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo completed off his sixth triple-double of the season with 28 factors, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Jrue Holiday fell simply in need of his personal triple-double with 20 factors, 10 assists and 9 rebounds.
Bucks ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo rebounds the ball over the Wizards’ Anthony Gill within the first quarter.
Bucks get sizzling from lengthy distance in first half
With patchwork lineups for each groups, the move of the sport was a bit uneven at first.
The Bucks dedicated 10 turnovers within the first half, with 5 of them coming from Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee pulled forward for a 75-62 lead on the break because of a 42-point outburst within the second quarter.
The Bucks did most of their harm within the first half from past the arc, capturing 14 for 22 (63.6%).
Bobby Portis and Wes Matthews have been red-hot off the bench, combining to hit all seven of their three-point makes an attempt within the first half.
Portis had a double-double within the first half with 13 factors and 12 rebounds, and he completed with 19 and 20 boards.
The Bucks made 23 three-pointers within the recreation.
“Numerous good play from up and down the roster,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer stated. “We shot it properly. So the assists for Jrue and Giannis, credit score to the shooters.
“I feel the fellows, for essentially the most half, had a very good focus and performed and bought an vital win for us.”
Story continues
Jae Crowder makes his first begin for Bucks
Jae Crowder, the previous Marquette star acquired by the Bucks in a commerce in February, made his first begin for Milwaukee.
Crowder made his greatest splash popping out of the locker room for the second half, scoring the Bucks’ first 10 factors of the third quarter.
Crowder completed with 19 factors on 7-for-11 capturing and added 9 rebounds for his finest efficiency with the Bucks.
“It was nice for him,” Budenholzer stated. “I feel that Giannis discovered him in form of a semi-transition assault after which he noticed that first one go in and guys stored searching for him. Kept discovering him.
“And we would have liked a very good begin to the third quarter. These video games you bought to have a very good focus and are available out of halftime prepared. I believed Jae did that for us.”
The Bucks took their greatest lead within the third quarter at 96-72 when Antetokounmpo discovered Joe Ingles for a three-pointer.
Former UW star Johnny Davis sees motion
The Wizards have been eradicated from playoff rivalry and, in all probability not a coincidence, sat rotation gamers Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis, Monte Morris and Deni Avdja.
That opened the door for former Wisconsin star Johnny Davis to see prolonged minutes.
Davis, whose father Mark performed for the Bucks for 31 video games within the 1988-89 season, completed with 20 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
“He’s profiting from his alternative to have the ball in his fingers and be aggressive,” Budenholzer stated. “He was spectacular.”
Grayson Allen out till playoffs with proper ankle harm
Bucks beginning guard Grayson Allen left Sunday evening’s victory over the Philadelphia 76ers with a proper ankle harm that appeared fairly painful.
As anticipated, Allen was dominated out for Tuesday evening’s recreation at Washington, and Budenholzer stated Allen will not be again within the lineup till the playoffs.
“There was a MRI,” Budenholzer stated earlier than dealing with the Wizards. “We’re hopeful that, provided that we now have per week of video games now and per week of preparation ready to see who comes out of the play-in tournaments, could coincide when he is out there.
“So I feel we simply must see how the primary 4, 5, six, seven days – the primary week – goes. How a lot we will then push him or how a lot he is capable of do within the second week. And if all the things form of went good, I feel there are eventualities when he could possibly be out there for the primary recreation. But that is quite a bit between every now and then and typically issues go slower. Sometimes they go faster.”
Bucks ahead Khris Middleton, who hasn’t performed in back-to-back video games this season, was additionally dominated out of the sport with proper knee administration with the staff enjoying the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday at Fiserv Forum.
Five numbers
10 Players to see minutes for the Bucks within the first half
7 Rebounds for Milwaukee ahead Bobby Portis within the first quarter
5 minutes performed by Pat Connaughton earlier than leaving with a proper ankle harm
20 Three-pointers made by the Bucks by three quarters
35 Career triple-doubles for Antetokounmpo
Play of the sport is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s block on Kendrick Nunn
The Bucks have been in management for a lot of the second half, however that didn’t cease Antetokounmpo from going all-out within the fourth quarter. After the Wizards’ Kendrick Nunn made a steal, he went in for a layup try however Antetokounmpo chased Nunn down and swatted the shot off the glass.
“His aggressive spirit is the most effective,” Budenholzer stated. “Those performs require a variety of vitality. Numerous competitiveness.
“Numerous guys, I feel, do not go get that. Not his bodily skill to go get it however the competitiveness and the willingness to go strive. He’s very particular that method.”
Video of the sport is Johnny Davis’ dunk over Jrue Holiday
Davis has struggled as a rookie, principally getting minutes within the G League, however he has proven flashes late within the season. Probably his greatest spotlight got here within the first quarter when Davis stole the ball, sprinted down the court docket and threw down a one-handed dunk whereas getting fouled by Holiday.
Bucks harm report
Grayson Allen (proper ankle sprain), out
Jevon Carter (left foot laceration), out
Khris Middleton (proper knee harm administration), out
Meyers Leonard (left calf soreness), possible
Who do the Bucks play subsequent?
Milwaukee finishes off its closing set of back-to-back video games within the common season in opposition to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday at Fiserv Forum. The Bucks beat the Bulls, 112-100, in Chicago on Feb. 16 for the twelfth victory in what could be a 16-game successful streak.
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This article initially appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis Antetokoumpo has sixth triple-double of season to beat Wizards
