Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 24 points, Bucks beat Hornets 111-99 to sweep season series
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points and 10 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks swept the four-game season series with Charlotte, beating the Hornets 111-99 on Thursday night to finish a home-and-home set.
Malik Beasley added 19 points - hitting five 3-pointers - and Bobby Portis had 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Bucks shot 16 of 39 from beyond the arc to give coach Doc Rivers his first four-game winning streak with the team.
The Bucks thrashed the Hornets by an average of 29.2 points this season - the largest margin in team history - after outscoring them by 38, 36 and 31 in the other three games. This game was closer, but not by much.
“It's veterans versus young players,” Rivers said about the matchup with the Hornets, three of which come after he was hired. “(Hornets coach) Steve Clifford is a hell of a coach and it's obvious to see, but he's a got a bunch of young guys who are learning how to play winning basketball. And one of his best players (LaMelo Ball) is out.”
Milwaukee shot 55% in the first half, including 9 of 18 on 3s, to build a 19-point lead at the break and was seriously challenged in the second half.
The Bucks have moved the ball extremely well during their four-game winning emphasizing extra passes to turn good shots into great ones.
Portis said that is a reflection on Rivers’ leadership.
“Shout to Doc,” Portis said. “Having a guy that can sit down with everybody and tell every player what he expects from them, it makes you own your role more. And I think the ball finds energy when you move it, play free and drive and kick. The ball finds the right man and everybody just lines up and shoots it.”
Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 21 points and Miles Bridges added 15 points and 10 rebounds.
It looked early on like it would be a replay of Tuesday night when the Bucks held the Hornets to 26 points in the first half en route to a 123-85 victory in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee jumped out to a 10-2 lead behind a driving dunk from Antetokounmpo to take control early.
The Hornets briefly clawed back into the game late in the first quarter after Thanasis Antetokounmpo was whistled for a technical foul on the bench for arguing a non-foul call against his younger brother Giannis. Thanasis Antetokounmpo screamed at officials after a scramble for the ball under the basket involving his brother and Charlotte's Bridges and Grant Williams. Giannis Antetokounmpo eventually came up with the loose ball and scored off the glass.
But the Hornets couldn't sustain the momentum, as the Bucks closed the first half with a 24-10 run behind Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, who finished with 17 points.
Clifford wasn't real happy with his team's defense.
“We gave up drives where we just had wrong stances, wrong angles and no help,” Clifford said. “Guys should not be blowing by us like they were."
Miller said the Bucks are playing at a “high clip,” adding that "I think they’re getting ready for the playoffs, so of course it’s a great team.”
UP NEXT
Bucks: At Chicago on Friday night.
Hornets: At Philadelphia on Friday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Brook Lopez vs. Nick Richards (Miles Bridges gains possession) | |||
11:39 | Brook Lopez blocks Miles Bridges's two point driving layup | |||
11:36 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
11:21 | +3 | Malik Beasley makes three point jump shot (Brook Lopez assists) | 3-0 | |
11:05 | Tre Mann misses three point jump shot | |||
11:01 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
10:44 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point cutting layup | |||
10:40 | Giannis Antetokounmpo offensive rebound | |||
10:40 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point tip layup | 5-0 | |
10:34 | Cody Martin misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
10:30 | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | |||
10:25 | Cody Martin personal foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | |||
10:12 | Malik Beasley misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
10:12 | Hornets defensive rebound | |||
9:58 | Tre Mann misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
9:56 | Jae Crowder defensive rebound | |||
9:49 | +3 | Brook Lopez makes three point jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 8-0 | |
9:33 | Brook Lopez shooting foul (Nick Richards draws the foul) | |||
9:33 | +1 | Nick Richards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-1 | |
9:33 | +1 | Nick Richards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-2 | |
9:17 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving dunk | 10-2 | |
9:04 | Tre Mann misses three point jump shot | |||
9:04 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
8:52 | Jae Crowder misses two point jump shot | |||
8:48 | Miles Bridges defensive rebound | |||
8:42 | Miles Bridges turnover (bad pass) (Jae Crowder steals) | |||
8:33 | Brook Lopez misses three point jump shot | |||
8:31 | Tre Mann defensive rebound | |||
8:17 | Miles Bridges misses two point driving layup | |||
8:16 | Tre Mann offensive rebound | |||
8:13 | Brandon Miller misses three point jump shot | |||
8:09 | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | |||
8:00 | Damian Lillard misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
7:58 | Tre Mann defensive rebound | |||
7:49 | +2 | Tre Mann makes two point driving floating jump shot | 10-4 | |
7:34 | Damian Lillard turnover (bad pass) (Tre Mann steals) | |||
7:27 | Malik Beasley personal foul (Brandon Miller draws the foul) | |||
7:20 | Brook Lopez blocks Tre Mann's two point driving layup | |||
7:16 | Malik Beasley defensive rebound | |||
7:13 | +3 | Damian Lillard makes three point pullup jump shot (Jae Crowder assists) | 13-4 | |
7:10 | Hornets 60 second timeout | |||
6:59 | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point pullup jump shot (Cody Martin assists) | 13-6 | |
6:46 | Damian Lillard turnover (bad pass) (Tre Mann steals) | |||
6:41 | +2 | Cody Martin makes two point running layup (Tre Mann assists) | 13-8 | |
6:21 | Brandon Miller shooting foul (Brook Lopez draws the foul) | |||
6:21 | +1 | Brook Lopez makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-8 | |
6:21 | +1 | Brook Lopez makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-8 | |
6:02 | Brandon Miller misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:58 | Malik Beasley defensive rebound | |||
5:48 | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 17-8 | |
5:41 | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point reverse layup (Cody Martin assists) | 17-10 | |
5:41 | Brook Lopez shooting foul (Brandon Miller draws the foul) | |||
5:41 | +1 | Brandon Miller makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 17-11 | |
5:29 | Malik Beasley misses three point jump shot | |||
5:26 | Miles Bridges defensive rebound | |||
5:16 | Vasilije Micic misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:14 | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | |||
5:05 | Bobby Portis misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
5:01 | Vasilije Micic defensive rebound | |||
4:51 | Brandon Miller misses three point jump shot | |||
4:49 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
4:46 | Seth Curry shooting foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | |||
4:46 | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-11 | |
4:46 | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-11 | |
4:29 | Miles Bridges misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
4:27 | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | |||
4:22 | Damian Lillard misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
4:22 | Bobby Portis offensive rebound | |||
4:22 | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point putback layup | 21-11 | |
4:22 | Miles Bridges shooting foul (Bobby Portis draws the foul) | |||
4:22 | +1 | Bobby Portis makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 22-11 | |
4:08 | +2 | Seth Curry makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Vasilije Micic assists) | 22-13 | |
3:55 | +3 | Pat Connaughton makes three point jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 25-13 | |
3:37 | Miles Bridges misses three point jump shot | |||
3:35 | Brandon Miller offensive rebound | |||
3:27 | +2 | Seth Curry makes two point cutting layup (Miles Bridges assists) | 25-15 | |
3:14 | Grant Williams personal foul (Bobby Portis draws the foul) | |||
3:14 | +1 | Bobby Portis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-15 | |
3:14 | Bobby Portis misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:12 | Patrick Beverley offensive rebound | |||
3:03 | Pat Connaughton misses three point jump shot | |||
3:00 | Seth Curry defensive rebound | |||
2:45 | Danilo Gallinari shooting foul (Grant Williams draws the foul) | |||
2:45 | Bucks 60 second timeout | |||
2:45 | Grant Williams misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:45 | Hornets offensive rebound | |||
2:45 | +1 | Grant Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-16 | |
2:31 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point alley-oop dunk (Danilo Gallinari assists) | 28-16 | |
2:07 | +3 | Grant Williams makes three point jump shot (Vasilije Micic assists) | 28-19 | |
1:41 | Bucks turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
1:29 | +3 | Grant Williams makes three point jump shot (Vasilije Micic assists) | 28-22 | |
1:14 | +2 | Patrick Beverley makes two point driving layup | 30-22 | |
1:13 | Miles Bridges defensive goaltending violation | |||
1:03 | Giannis Antetokounmpo shooting foul (Grant Williams draws the foul) | |||
1:03 | +1 | Grant Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-23 | |
1:03 | +1 | Grant Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-24 | |
0:51 | Patrick Beverley misses three point jump shot | |||
0:47 | Giannis Antetokounmpo offensive rebound | |||
0:46 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point layup | 32-24 | |
0:45 | Thanasis Antetokounmpo technical foul | |||
0:45 | +1 | Seth Curry makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 32-25 | |
0:34 | Vasilije Micic turnover (lost ball) (Pat Connaughton steals) | |||
0:25 | +3 | Patrick Beverley makes three point jump shot (Bobby Portis assists) | 35-25 | |
0:01 | Vasilije Micic misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Hornets offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:41 | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point hook shot | 37-25 | |
11:19 | +3 | Brandon Miller makes three point jump shot (Tre Mann assists) | 37-28 | |
11:08 | +3 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes three point pullup jump shot | 40-28 | |
10:52 | Pat Connaughton personal foul (Tre Mann draws the foul) | |||
10:43 | +3 | Seth Curry makes three point jump shot (Tre Mann assists) | 40-31 | |
10:23 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point driving layup | |||
10:21 | Tre Mann defensive rebound | |||
10:09 | +2 | Seth Curry makes two point stepback jump shot | 40-33 | |
9:48 | Pat Connaughton misses three point jump shot | |||
9:42 | Tre Mann defensive rebound | |||
9:34 | Seth Curry turnover (bad pass) (Bobby Portis steals) | |||
9:29 | Tre Mann shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | |||
9:29 | Hornets 60 second timeout | |||
9:29 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:29 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 41-33 | |
9:15 | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point driving layup | 41-35 | |
9:15 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive goaltending violation | |||
8:55 | Seth Curry shooting foul (Pat Connaughton draws the foul) | |||
8:55 | +1 | Pat Connaughton makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 42-35 | |
8:55 | +1 | Pat Connaughton makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 43-35 | |
8:55 | +1 | Pat Connaughton makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 44-35 | |
8:39 | Brandon Miller misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
8:37 | Patrick Beverley defensive rebound | |||
8:28 | Cody Martin shooting foul (Patrick Beverley draws the foul) | |||
8:28 | +1 | Patrick Beverley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 45-35 | |
8:28 | +1 | Patrick Beverley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-35 | |
8:10 | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Grant Williams assists) | 46-37 | |
7:56 | Malik Beasley misses three point jump shot | |||
7:53 | Cody Martin defensive rebound | |||
7:28 | Nick Richards misses three point jump shot | |||
7:26 | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | |||
7:18 | Nick Richards personal foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | |||
7:06 | Brook Lopez misses two point driving layup | |||
7:06 | Hornets defensive rebound | |||
6:47 | +2 | Nick Richards makes two point alley-oop dunk (Cody Martin assists) | 46-39 | |
6:26 | Bobby Portis misses three point jump shot | |||
6:22 | Brandon Miller defensive rebound | |||
6:11 | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point driving layup | 46-41 | |
6:02 | +2 | Damian Lillard makes two point driving layup | 48-41 | |
5:45 | Miles Bridges misses two point jump shot | |||
5:43 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
5:38 | +2 | Malik Beasley makes two point driving layup (Damian Lillard assists) | 50-41 | |
5:37 | Hornets 60 second timeout | |||
5:21 | Davis Bertans misses three point jump shot | |||
5:20 | Cody Martin offensive rebound | |||
5:20 | Damian Lillard personal foul (Cody Martin draws the foul) | |||
5:13 | +2 | Miles Bridges makes two point layup (Vasilije Micic assists) | 50-43 | |
5:13 | Jae Crowder shooting foul (Miles Bridges draws the foul) | |||
5:13 | Miles Bridges misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
5:09 | Jae Crowder defensive rebound | |||
4:58 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point dunk (Brook Lopez assists) | 52-43 | |
4:37 |