Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game absence Friday night to help lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 130-99 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Antetokounmpo played 28 minutes and had 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Bucks, who’ve won three straight and remain unbeaten in the NBA in-season tournament.
Antetokounmpo sat out Wednesday’s win over the Toronto Raptors, missing his first game of the season, because of a strained right calf.
Malik Beasley (20 points) had six 3-pointers and Damian Lillard (27 points) had five as the Bucks went 22-of-45 from beyond the arc and outscored the Hornets 38-18 in the fourth quarter.
“I loved how we shared the ball and moved the ball and were looking for each other,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin said. “That is what we have been stressing the last week or so, and it’s a fun way to play. Giannis really spearheaded that and was spreading it around and we were getting open shots.”
Milwaukee’s victory sets up a showdown on Nov. 28 in Miami against the Heat, the only other undefeated team in East Group B in what might determine who’ll advance to the single-elimination knockout stage.
Both teams are 2-0 in tournament play.
Griffin said he left his starters in the game in the fourth quarter with a big lead to help the Bucks’ point differential numbers in the tournament, which will go toward determining the one wild card team in each conference.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Source: www.espn.com