Antetokounmpo gets triple-double as Bucks beat Cavs 126-116 in 1st game since Griffin was fired
MILWAUKEE (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo made sure the Milwaukee Bucks delivered a win the night after their coach was fired.
Antetokounmpo recorded his third triple-double in his last four games and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated Cleveland 126-116 on Wednesday night to snap the Cavaliers’ eight-game winning streak. The victory capped an emotional couple of days following the dismissal of Adrian Griffin on Tuesday.
The two-time MVP scored 35 points, matched a season high with 18 rebounds and had 10 assists for his seventh triple-double of the season. Antetokounmpo is one assist shy of having four straight triple-doubles after having 31 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists Saturday in a 141-135 triumph at Detroit.
“For a coach like Griff, from Day 1, everything was about togetherness,” Antetokounmpo said. “He was always leading this group into the direction we set at the beginning of the year. Him not being here, at the end of the day, we’re humans. It hurts everybody.
"But we’ve got to keep on moving forward. We have a goal in our head, which is to be the best basketball team that we can be.”
Griffin was fired despite going 30-13 in his lone season as coach. Joe Prunty, an assistant on Griffin’s staff, coached the Bucks on Wednesday while team officials were finalizing negotiations with Doc Rivers to eventually take over, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.
“I think our experience really worked in our favor in this situation,” said Damian Lillard, who scored 28 points for the Bucks. “We've all experienced a lot of things. I think this was different for everybody, but I think we just understood we had a game tonight, and it was going to be a tough game against a really good team that kind of handled us the last time we played them.”
Prunty has plenty of experience in this role.
He went 21-16 with Milwaukee in 2017-18 and also coached the Bucks during their first-round, seven-game playoff loss to the Boston Celtics after the midseason firing of Jason Kidd. Prunty was 2-0 with Atlanta last season after the Hawks fired Nate McMillan and before they hired Quin Snyder.
“It’s not easy, but you do have a job to do,” Prunty said. “That’s one of the things that we talked about as a team, just talked about, ‘Look, we still have responsibilities. We still have roles. We still have jobs that we have to do on the court.’ So you just do. You move forward. But it’s not easy. It really isn’t.”
Milwaukee has the Eastern Conference’s second-best record, but the Bucks weren’t playing defense nearly as well for Griffin as they had under predecessor Mike Budenholzer.
The Bucks’ last loss in Griffin’s 43-game tenure was a 135-95 blowout – their most lopsided defeat of the season – at Cleveland a week ago while Antetokounmpo was out with a bruised right shoulder.
Milwaukee looked much better Wednesday while cooling the NBA’s hottest team.
Cleveland had trailed for just 35 seconds over its last five games and had three straight wire-to-wire victories, but the Cavaliers never led in this one.
“They are a prideful team,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of the Bucks. “There's champions over there in that locker room. So we did expect their intensity to be lifted today. Give them credit. They played well.”
Khris Middleton added 24 points for the Bucks.
Donovan Mitchell had 23 points and Jarrett Allen added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs. Georges Niang and Max Strus scored 14 points each, Sam Merrill 12 and Isaac Okoro 10.
The Cavaliers trailed by as many as 21 in the third quarter and were still behind 103-87 with nine minutes left before cutting the margin to six with 3:44 remaining. Antetokounmpo answered with a dunk to start a 6-1 run that gave the Bucks more breathing room.
Cleveland was playing for the first time since backup center Tristan Thompson received a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy by testing positive for ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033.
UP NEXT
The Cavaliers and Bucks meet again Friday in Milwaukee.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jarrett Allen vs. Brook Lopez (Isaac Okoro gains possession) | |||
11:43 | Jarrett Allen misses two point floating jump shot | |||
11:40 | Malik Beasley defensive rebound | |||
11:25 | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point cutting layup (Brook Lopez assists) | 0-2 | |
11:15 | Donovan Mitchell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:12 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
11:02 | Brook Lopez misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
10:59 | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | |||
10:44 | +2 | Isaac Okoro makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Jarrett Allen assists) | 2-2 | |
10:31 | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point pullup jump shot | 2-4 | |
10:16 | Jarrett Allen misses two point hook shot | |||
10:13 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
10:09 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point running finger roll layup | 2-6 | |
10:01 | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | |||
9:58 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
9:52 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
9:50 | Dean Wade defensive rebound | |||
9:45 | Jarrett Allen misses two point running layup | |||
9:42 | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | |||
9:37 | Isaac Okoro personal foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | |||
9:33 | Isaac Okoro personal foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | |||
9:22 | Damian Lillard misses three point jump shot | |||
9:19 | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
9:14 | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving layup | 4-6 | |
9:02 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point cutting layup | |||
9:01 | Giannis Antetokounmpo offensive rebound | |||
9:01 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point tip layup | 4-8 | |
9:01 | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | |||
8:44 | Jarrett Allen misses two point cutting layup | |||
8:42 | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | |||
8:40 | Max Strus shooting foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | |||
8:40 | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-9 | |
8:40 | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-10 | |
8:24 | Max Strus misses two point floating jump shot | |||
8:21 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
8:17 | Damian Lillard misses three point running jump shot | |||
8:14 | Khris Middleton offensive rebound | |||
8:11 | Brook Lopez misses three point jump shot | |||
8:11 | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | |||
7:58 | Malik Beasley shooting foul (Donovan Mitchell draws the foul) | |||
7:58 | Donovan Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:58 | Cavaliers offensive rebound | |||
7:58 | Donovan Mitchell misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
7:58 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
7:43 | Khris Middleton misses three point jump shot | |||
7:40 | Brook Lopez offensive rebound | |||
7:35 | +3 | Malik Beasley makes three point jump shot (Brook Lopez assists) | 4-13 | |
7:12 | +3 | Dean Wade makes three point stepback jump shot (Jarrett Allen assists) | 7-13 | |
6:58 | Malik Beasley turnover (bad pass) (Caris LeVert steals) | |||
6:51 | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point running layup (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 9-13 | |
6:37 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
6:35 | Khris Middleton offensive rebound | |||
6:34 | Khris Middleton misses two point putback layup | |||
6:31 | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
6:24 | Jarrett Allen misses two point layup | |||
6:21 | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | |||
6:10 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point cutting dunk (Khris Middleton assists) | 9-15 | |
5:52 | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point stepback jump shot | 12-15 | |
5:38 | +2 | Brook Lopez makes two point cutting layup (Damian Lillard assists) | 12-17 | |
5:24 | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point floating jump shot (Max Strus assists) | 14-17 | |
5:23 | Bucks 60 second timeout | |||
5:07 | Bobby Portis misses three point jump shot | |||
5:04 | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | |||
4:50 | Donovan Mitchell misses three point jump shot | |||
4:47 | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | |||
4:40 | +2 | Damian Lillard makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Malik Beasley assists) | 14-19 | |
4:22 | Jae Crowder personal foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | |||
4:11 | +2 | Georges Niang makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 16-19 | |
3:56 | Bobby Portis misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
3:52 | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
3:44 | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | |||
3:41 | Jae Crowder defensive rebound | |||
3:19 | +2 | Damian Lillard makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 16-21 | |
3:08 | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point driving layup | 18-21 | |
2:54 | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point layup | 18-23 | |
2:37 | +2 | Damian Jones makes two point cutting dunk (Caris LeVert assists) | 20-23 | |
2:22 | Caris LeVert shooting foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | |||
2:22 | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 20-24 | |
2:22 | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 20-25 | |
2:22 | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 20-26 | |
1:55 | Caris LeVert turnover (bad pass) (Pat Connaughton steals) | |||
1:42 | +3 | Jae Crowder makes three point jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 20-29 | |
1:29 | +3 | Max Strus makes three point jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 23-29 | |
1:20 | Caris LeVert blocks Damian Lillard's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
1:20 | Bucks offensive rebound | |||
1:05 | Bobby Portis misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
1:05 | Cavaliers defensive rebound | |||
0:55 | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point pullup jump shot | 25-29 | |
0:33 | +3 | Damian Lillard makes three point stepback jump shot | 25-32 | |
0:14 | +2 | Damian Jones makes two point alley-oop dunk (Caris LeVert assists) | 27-32 | |
0:14 | Giannis Antetokounmpo shooting foul (Damian Jones draws the foul) | |||
0:14 | +1 | Damian Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 28-32 | |
0:02 | Damian Lillard turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
0:01 | Max Strus turnover (bad pass) (Damian Lillard steals) | |||
0:00 | Damian Lillard misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Bucks offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:48 | Bobby Portis turnover (3-second violation) | |||
11:35 | Caris LeVert misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:32 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
11:29 | +3 | Cameron Payne makes three point running jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 28-35 | |
11:11 | Caris LeVert misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
11:09 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
10:50 | Giannis Antetokounmpo turnover (bad pass) (Max Strus steals) | |||
10:45 | +2 | Max Strus makes two point running dunk | 30-35 | |
10:26 | +2 | Cameron Payne makes two point driving finger roll layup | 30-37 | |
10:02 | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | |||
10:01 | Cavaliers offensive rebound | |||
10:01 | Cavaliers turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
9:50 | Damian Jones technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
9:50 | Khris Middleton misses technical free throw 1 of 1 | |||
9:50 | Bucks offensive rebound | |||
9:35 | Khris Middleton misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:32 | Georges Niang defensive rebound | |||
9:28 | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point running jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 33-37 | |
9:12 | +3 | Pat Connaughton makes three point jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 33-40 | |
8:55 | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Damian Jones assists) | 36-40 | |
8:45 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving layup (Khris Middleton assists) | 36-42 | |
8:35 | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Georges Niang assists) | 39-42 | |
8:23 | +3 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes three point jump shot (Khris Middleton assists) | 39-45 | |
8:09 | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | |||
8:06 | Pat Connaughton defensive rebound | |||
7:56 | +3 | Pat Connaughton makes three point jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 39-48 | |
7:33 | Giannis Antetokounmpo blocks Isaac Okoro's two point driving reverse layup | |||
7:30 | Isaac Okoro offensive rebound | |||
7:30 | Pat Connaughton shooting foul (Isaac Okoro draws the foul) | |||
7:30 | +1 | Isaac Okoro makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-48 | |
7:30 | +1 | Isaac Okoro makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 41-48 | |
7:18 | Brook Lopez misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
7:15 | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | |||
7:09 | Sam Merrill turnover (traveling) | |||
6:56 | Khris Middleton misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:53 | Dean Wade defensive rebound | |||
6:37 | Donovan Mitchell misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:34 | Cameron Payne defensive rebound | |||
6:25 | Cameron Payne misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
6:24 | Dean Wade defensive rebound | |||
6:24 | Dean Wade turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
6:24 | Bucks 60 second timeout | |||
6:07 | Cameron Payne misses three point jump shot | |||
6:04 | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | |||
5:51 | Donovan Mitchell misses two point floating jump shot | |||
5:48 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
5:40 | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 41-50 | |
5:16 | Jarrett Allen turnover (lost ball) (Brook Lopez steals) | |||
5:13 | Donovan Mitchell shooting foul (Bobby Portis draws the foul) | |||
5:13 | +1 | Bobby Portis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 41-51 | |
5:13 | +1 | Bobby Portis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 41-52 | |
4:52 | +2 | Isaac Okoro makes two point driving bank hook shot (Jarrett Allen assists) | 43-52 | |
4:34 | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point jump shot (Jae Crowder assists) | 43-54 | |
4:19 | Dean Wade misses three point jump shot | |||
4:15 | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | |||
4:15 | Max Strus personal foul (Malik Beasley draws the foul) | |||
3:58 | Damian Lillard misses three point jump shot | |||
3:56 | Jae Crowder offensive rebound | |||
3:43 | Malik Beasley misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
3:41 | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
3:37 | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point pullup jump shot | 45-54 | |
3:15 | Jae Crowder turnover (bad pass) (Max Strus steals) | |||
3:10 | +2 | Max Strus makes two point running layup | 47-54 | |
2:51 | Dean Wade blocks Damian Lillard's two point driving layup | |||
2:49 | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
2:45 | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point running dunk (Max Strus assists) | 49-54 | |
2:28 | Damian Lillard misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:25 | Brook Lopez offensive rebound | |||
2:24 | Jae Crowder misses three point jump shot | |||
2:24 | Max Strus defensive rebound | |||
2:16 | Jarrett Allen misses two point jump shot | |||
2:16 | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | |||
2:09 | Jae Crowder turnover (back court violation) | |||
2:09 | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | |||
1:52 | Donovan Mitchell misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:49 | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | |||
1:48 | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point reverse dunk | 51-54 | |
1:35 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
1:32 | Dean Wade defensive rebound | |||
1:30 | Donovan Mitchell turnover (bad pass) (Damian Lillard steals) | |||
1:22 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving finger roll layup | 51-56 | |
0:59 | Caris LeVert turnover (bad pass) (Khris Middleton steals) | |||
0:54 | +3 | Malik Beasley makes three point running jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 51-59 | |
0:31 | Donovan Mitchell misses two point driving layup | |||
0:28 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
0:26 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point running dunk (Damian Lillard assists) | 51-61 | |
0:06 | Khris Middleton personal foul (Caris LeVert draws the foul) | |||