Giannis Antetokounmpo pulls in a rebound against the Washington Wizards on April 4, 2023. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and Jrue Holiday nearly added a triple-double of his own as the Milwaukee Bucks took another step toward wrapping up the NBA's best record with a 140-128 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
Holiday finished with 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, and Bobby Portis added 19 points and 20 rebounds for Milwaukee.
The Bucks (57-22) moved to 2 1/2 games ahead of Boston, which played at Philadelphia on Tuesday.
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Kendrick Nunn scored 24 points for the Wizards, who are out of playoff contention and played without Bradley Beal (left knee), Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Kyle Kuzma (right ankle). Washington kept it close until late in the second quarter, when Milwaukee closed the half on a 13-5 run to lead 75-62.
It wasn't close after that, with the Bucks leading by as many as 24 points. Milwaukee wasn't at full strength either. Khris Middleton (right knee) missed the game, which was the first half of a back-to-back for the Bucks. Grayson Allen was also out after leaving Sunday's game against Philadelphia with a sprained right ankle.
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Washington (34-45) is now in a three-way tie for 11th place in the Eastern Conference with Orlando and Indiana.
Tip-ins
Bucks: Jevon Carter (left foot) did not play. ... Portis has 23 double-doubles off the bench this season, the most in the league.
Wizards: In addition to the Beal-Porzingis-Kuzma trio, Washington was also missing Monte Morris (right ankle), Delon Wright (illness) and Deni Avdija (left elbow). Jordan Goodwin, Johnny Davis and Anthony Gill, who had combined for 10 starts all season, were all in the starting lineup. ... Davis, a first-round draft pick last year, scored a career-high 20 points.
Up next
Bucks: Host Chicago on Wednesday night.
Wizards: At Atlanta on Wednesday night.