In a duel between NBA championship contenders, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks got the best of Kawhi Leonard and the L.A. Clippers, 105-100 on Sunday in Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo produced 36 points, 14 rebounds and five assists becoming the second player in Milwaukee history to score 35 or more points in four consecutive games.
The Bucks, who won their fifth consecutive game, ended the contest on a 9-0 run.
Leading 101-100 after a pair of Antetokounmpo free throws, the Bucks regained possession after a missed jumper by Paul George. Following a timeout, the Bucks rotated the ball on the perimeter and fed Antetokounmpo, who blew past Marcus Morris Sr. and delivered an emphatic one-handed dunk with 10.3 seconds left.
Leonard had a chance to tie at the other end, but his 3-pointer hit the front of the rim and bounced to Khris Middleton, who was fouled with 2.1 seconds left. Middleton hit both free throws to seal the victory.
Leonard finished with 25 points and nine rebounds as the Clippers used a 13-0 run to take a 73-70 lead late in the third. But George and Leonard combined to shoot 0-for-9 over the final 4:01 of the game.
Jrue Holiday returned to the Bucks rotation after missing the previous 10 games due to health and safety protocols. Holiday entered the game with 5:23 left in the first quarter and finished with only two points and three assists. But Holiday finished with a plus-10 in plus-minus over 18 minutes.
Middleton scored 19 points and finished with eight assists and six rebounds while Donte DiVincenzo had 11 points and seven rebounds.
George had 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Serge Ibaka totaled 15 points and 11 rebounds. Lou Williams finished with 14 points and Morris Sr. scored 11 points off the Clippers bench.
Patrick Patterson (personal reasons) missed his sixth consecutive game. Jaylen Adams sat out for the fifth consecutive game due to health and safety protocols and rookie Jordan Nwora missed his 14th game in a row with a left ankle sprain.
--Field Level Media
L.A. Clippers | Milwaukee | |
Kawhi Leonard 25 | Scoring | Giannis Antetokounmpo 36 |
Paul George 7 | Assists | Khris Middleton 8 |
Serge Ibaka 11 | Rebounds | Giannis Antetokounmpo 14 |
Kawhi Leonard 3 | Free Throws Made | Khris Middleton 5 |
Kawhi Leonard 2 | Steals | Bobby Portis 3 |
Serge Ibaka 2 | Blocks | Giannis Antetokounmpo 4 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
L.A. Clippers | 100 | 41.2 | 14-44 | 6-7 | 20 | 49 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
Milwaukee | 105 | 44.7 | 12-38 | 17-22 | 21 | 48 | 5 | 7 | 12 |