Giannis Antetokounmpo went simply over the 32-minute limit that Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers is making an attempt to maintain his star underneath in opposition to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday evening. Rivers is making an attempt to cap Antetokounmpo’s minutes to forestall the two-time NBA MVP from aggravating a left calf pressure.
Taking part in 32 minutes and 37 seconds, Antetokounmpo tallied 28 factors, 19 rebounds and 7 assists in a 121-112 win over Denver at Fiserv Discussion board. He was even on the bench because the Bucks started to drag away, ultimately constructing a 12-point lead within the fourth quarter.
Denver minimize the margin to 111-106 with 2:20 remaining, however Antetokounmpo drew a foul after grabbing an offensive rebound and hit two free throws to place Milwaukee on prime by seven. He adopted with a jumper after a Nuggets turnover to provide the Bucks a 115-106 lead.
Brook Lopez adopted Antetokounmpo with 22 factors, whereas Damian Lillard scored 19 and Kyle Kuzma added 16. The Bucks have received 5 of six video games and eight of their previous 10. Milwaukee improved to 33-25, staying a half-game forward of the surging Detroit Pistons for the No. 5 seed within the Jap Convention.
In a matchup of a number of MVP winners, Nikola Jokić notched his twenty seventh triple-double of the season with 32 factors, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. He shot 13-of-16 from the ground.
Jamal Murray added 20 factors, adopted by Christian Braun‘s 13 factors and 10 rebounds as Denver fell to 38-21, taking their second loss prior to now three video games after profitable 9 in a row. The Nuggets dropped a half-game behind the Memphis Grizzlies to the No. 3 spot within the West. Milwaukee had a 28-11 benefit in free throws, some extent of irritation for Denver coach Michael Malone within the fourth quarter.
“Clearly, we fouled an excessive amount of. For there to be a 28-11 differential is simply loopy to me,” Malone said afterwards. “I used to be making an attempt to speak to the referees all evening lengthy about that one as a result of we’re a workforce that assaults. We had 32 in transition, we had 68 within the paint and we simply couldn’t get a foul known as.”
The Bucks are off till Saturday once they go to the Dallas Mavericks. Denver performs the second finish of a back-to-back on Friday, persevering with their four-game street journey versus the Pistons.