National Basketball Association
Milwaukee 128, New Orleans 119
When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, December 19, 2022
Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Officials: #25 Tony Brothers, #54 Ray Acosta, #79 John Conley
Attendance: 18271

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 42 points and 10 rebounds, and the visiting Milwaukee Bucks gave the New Orleans Pelicans their season-worst fourth consecutive loss, 128-119, on Monday night.

Brook Lopez added 30 points, former Pelican Jrue Holiday had 18 points and 11 assists and Pat Connaughton scored 11 points. The Bucks shot 55.6 percent (45 of 81) from the floor.

Jonas Valanciunas had a season-high 37 points and 18 rebounds, CJ McCollum scored 31 points, Zion Williamson had 18 and Trey Murphy III 13 for the Pelicans, whose losing streak comes on the heels of a seven-game winning streak.

Lopez made three 3-pointers and added a 2-pointer as the Bucks increased their five-point halftime lead to nine points midway through the third quarter.

They expanded the lead to 15 before taking a 100-90 lead at the end of the period.

Antetokounmpo scored seven points in the first minute and a half of the fourth quarter as Milwaukee opened a 107-92 lead.

Williamson scored eight points and assisted on a basket by McCollum as New Orleans crept within three with 1:32 remaining.

But Holiday made a 3-pointer, rebounded a Pelicans miss and fed Lopez for a layup and an eight-point lead with 1:02 remaining.

Valanciunas scored the Pelicans' first 15 points and Murphy became his first teammate to score, making two free throws for a 17-14 lead.

The Bucks went on a 16-5 run and Connaughton's 3-pointer gave them an eight-point lead, their biggest of the quarter.

McCollum made a layup and Dyson Daniels hit a 3-pointer to pull New Orleans within 30-27 at the end of the period.

Milwaukee scored the first eight points of the second quarter before Williamson made consecutive baskets for his first four points.

Valanciunas made three 3-pointers in a span of 1:20 and McCollum added a 3-pointer to get New Orleans within two points.

Antetokounmpo answered with consecutive dunks to help the Bucks increase the lead to 66-61 at halftime. He finished the half with 26 points, two fewer than Valanciunas.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Milwaukee   New Orleans
Giannis Antetokounmpo 42 Scoring Jonas Valanciunas 37
Jrue Holiday 11 Assists CJ McCollum 9
Giannis Antetokounmpo 10 Rebounds Jonas Valanciunas 18
Giannis Antetokounmpo 17 Free Throws Made Trey Murphy III 6
Jevon Carter 3 Steals Herbert Jones 5
Grayson Allen 1 Blocks N/A
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Milwaukee 128 55.6 13-40 25-31 26 44 6 8 18
New Orleans 119 42.4 18-45 17-24 30 44 0 9 15
Upcoming Games
  • New Orleans will play their next game at home against San Antonio. The Pelicans have a W/L % of .579 after a win and .636 after a loss.
  • Milwaukee will play their next game on the road against Cleveland. The Bucks have a W/L % of .667 after a win and .889 after a loss.