Giannis Antetokounmpo has 36 points and 12 rebounds, Bucks beat Nets 129-125

By PAT PICKENS

NEW YORK (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points and 12 rebounds to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Brooklyn Nets 129-125 on Monday night.

Damian Lillard added 21 points, and Jae Crowder had 15. Milwaukee improved to 4-2 with its first road victory of the season.

Cam Thomas scored 45 points for Brooklyn in his fourth 30-point game of the season. Mikal Bridges had 31 points, and Lonnie Walker IV added 19 points. Brooklyn fell to 3-4 overall and 0-3 at home.

Antetokounmpo entered with more points in his career against Brooklyn than any other opponent (817), and the Nets were without center Nic Claxton and forward Cam Johnson for the sixth straight game.

Despite trailing by 10 in the second half, the Bucks appeared poised to pull away after taking the lead with a 17-5 third-quarter-closing run then building a nine-point advantage by scoring 12 of the first 17 points in the fourth.

Brooklyn roared back, led by Thomas who scored seven of the points on his team’s 12-0 run that gave the Nets a 115-12 lead with five minutes left.

But the Bucks scored 17 of the game’s final 27 points, keyed by Antetokounmpo’s nine points in the span and two crucial blocks in the game’s final minute.

Bridges scored 11 first-quarter points on 5-for-7 shooting, and the Nets shot 52 percent from the field in the first quarter, building a seven-point advantage.

But Antetokounmpo scored 12 in the first, including an electric breakaway dunk late in the quarter, and Milwaukee closed within 32-29. Milwaukee then opened the second quarter by making 10 of its first 12 shots and building an eight-point advantage, 58-50.

But Brooklyn responded with strong defense, limiting the Bucks to just one field goal over the final 5:03. Led by Thomas’ 14 second-quarter points, Brooklyn closed the frame with a 17-5 run and took a 67-63 lead into halftime.

UP NEXT

Bucks: Host Detroit on Wednesday

Nets: Host LA Clippers on Wednesday.

an any other opponent (817), and the Nets were without center Nic Claxton and forward Cam Johnson for the sixth straight game.

Despite trailing by 10 in the second half, the Bucks appeared poised to pull away after taking the lead with a 17-5 third-quarter-closing run, then building a nine-point advantage by scoring 12 of the first 17 points in the fourth.

Brooklyn roared back, led by Thomas who scored seven of the points on his team’s 12-0 run that gave the Nets a 115-12 lead with five minutes left.

But the Bucks scored 17 of the final 27 points, keyed by Antetokounmpo’s nine points in the span and two crucial blocks in the game’s final minute.

UP NEXT

Bucks: Host Detroit on Wednesday night.

Nets: Host Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba