Giannis Antetokounmpo doubled before half-time and joined Khris Middleton for 70 Milwaukee Bucks points in a 128-115 win when he visited Sacramento on Sunday.
Antetokounmpo finished with a high of 38 points and 18 rebounds, while adding four assists. Middleton finished with 32 points, while shooting 13 of 22 from the field and adding eight rebounds, six assists and four leads.
The Bucks won their second game in a row after catching a streak that lost five games.
Sacramento dropped the seventh consecutive series and played without taking Harrison Barnes ’top score (left foot strain) for the third game in a row.
Richaun Holmes returned to the Kings starting lineup after missing three games with a knee injury and finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds in 21 minutes. But he was held to just one point and one rebound in the second half.
Antetokounmpo fired 9 of 19 from the field, receiving half of his points from the free throw line. The 19 free throws tied a high career on a high 24 post effort.
Donte DiVincenzo had 16 points on a 7-of-12 shooting, while Pat Connaughton finished with 12 points and Bryn Forbes added 10.
Milwaukee threatened to pull away just before halftime leading 64-48 before Buddy Hield added his first eight points of the game in a row to cut the deficit in half. Milwaukee opened a 70-56 lead at halftime.
Middleton then scored Milwaukee’s first five points in the second half when the Bucks opened up a 75-56 win. Milwaukee would eventually see the win grow to as much as 23 points early in the second half.
The Bucks played the eighth game in a row without Jrue Holiday due to health and safety protocols. Jaylen Adams also stayed out for the same reason.
Rookie Tyrese Haliburton led the Kings with 23 points, whiloe adding eight assists and five rebounds and was one of six Sacramento players to score in double figures.
DaQuan Jeffries scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds while Hield and De’Aaron Fox had 13 points. Fox also had 10 assistants. Marvin Bagley III added 12 points and six rebounds.
–Field Media Level