Wizards beat Bucks, overcome Antetokounmpo's triple-double
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks goes up against Tristan Vukcevic #00 of the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on April 02, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - Corey Kispert scored 27 points and Deni Avdija added 23 to help the Washington Wizards beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-113 on Tuesday night despite Giannis Antetokounmpo's triple-double.
Antetokounmpo had 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists and reached double figures in all three categories by the end of the third quarter. That wasn't enough for Milwaukee, which came into the night with a 2 1/2-game lead over Cleveland for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Jordan Poole had 16 points and a career-high 13 assists for Washington, and Jared Butler provided a lift off the bench with 17 points. Tristan Vukcevic, a 7-foot rookie from Serbia whom the Wizards signed in the middle of last month, scored 14. His previous career high was six.
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Washington led 58-54 at halftime, then began the third quarter on a 12-1 run to stretch the lead to 15. Milwaukee shot 11 of 48 from 3-point range on the night, but the Bucks finally made a few near the end of the third, including Jae Crowder's shot at the buzzer that cut the lead to five.
It was down to two in the fourth, but Washington was able to hold on. A 3-pointer by Kispert made it 113-106, and with Milwaukee down by four in the final minute, Antetokounmpo lost the ball inside.
The Bucks got it back and called timeout with 21.9 seconds remaining. Khris Middleton made a layup, but Anthony Gill got free behind Milwaukee's press for a layup with 8.3 seconds to play that pushed the lead back to four.
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Milwaukee was playing without star guard Damian Lillard (right groin strain), and Kyle Kuzma (right heel contusion) was out for the Wizards. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Lillard could be back as early as Wednesday night.
The Bucks lost Patrick Beverley in the third quarter after Poole slipped while driving to the basket and fell into Beverley's left leg. Both players were shaken up, although Poole was able to play on.