NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo powers Bucks past Thunder

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 118-93 win over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.

Khris Middleton notched his second career triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Bucks (46-25). Bobby Portis scored 15 points and Brook Lopez added 14.

Josh Giddey led the Thunder (49-21) with 19. After a hot start, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with just 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting and Chet Holmgren finished with six, going 1-for-10 from the floor. It snapped a 30-game streak for Gilgeous-Alexander scoring at least 20 points.

The first half was tightly contested. The Bucks trailed by as many as eight in the first quarter but rattled off an 11-0 run to go into the second up 25-22.

In the second quarter, Milwaukee led by as many as nine, but it was the Thunder who went on a late run to turn the tides. OKC went on a 12-2 surge to take the lead just before Milwaukee ended the half up 48-47.

Antetokounmpo had 12 points and 10 boards at the half while Damian Lillard had just two points on 1-of-8 shooting. Giddey had 15 before halftime for OKC.

The third quarter started in the Bucks’ favor, with OKC struggling from the field. The Thunder did not make a field goal for more than six minutes to start the half and the Bucks went on an 18-2 run as a result, taking a 66-49 lead.

From there, Milwaukee went on cruise control. The Bucks went into the fourth with an 82-64 advantage. Milwaukee outscored the Thunder 70-46 in the second half, with OKC scoring just 17 points in the third quarter.

The Bucks grew a lead to as many as 26. It’s just the eighth time Milwaukee has held an opponent under 100 points this season. The Bucks grabbed a season-high 57 rebounds. — Field Level Media/Reuters