Bucks Zone

The Bucks end two-game losing streak with a win over the Timberwolves

The Bucks improved to 4-7 under coach Doc Rivers.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
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The Milwaukee Bucks came out of the All-Star break with a statement win, ending a two-game losing streak with a big 112-107 victory over the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 33 points and 13 rebounds as the Bucks dealt the Timberwolves just their sixth home loss in the season. 

A much-needed win

Milwaukee improved to 4-7 under coach Doc Rivers and 36-21 on the season. The loss put the Timberwolves in a tie with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Western Conference-leading 39-17 record. The Thunder caught up with the Timberwolves after they routed the Washington Wizards earlier Friday, 147-106.

Milwuakee also improved to 13-14 on the road as it avenged its 105-129 loss to Minnesota on February 8th, knotting the two-game regular-season series at one game apiece.

Damian Lillard flirted with a triple-double for Milwaukee as he finished with 21 points, ten assists, nine rebounds, two steals, and a block. Lillard shot just 8 of 23 from the field but hit a jumper that gave the Bucks a five-point lead with 10 seconds left.

Pivotal third-quarter run

Brook Lopez added 16 points, while Malik Beasley tallied 14, all in the third period, where the Bucks outscored the Timberwolves 36-13. The Bucks trailed at the half, 51-57, but the third-quarter explosion allowed them to overtake the Timberwolves going into the fourth quarter.

Coming into the contest as winners of four straight games, Minnesota mounted a huge rally in the payoff period as a three-pointer by Anthony Edwards put them within 107-110 with 32 seconds to go. Lillard shut the door on Minnesota when he dropped a 21-footer in the final 10.3 seconds.

Edwards led the Timberwolves with 28 points, and KAT added 22. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Rudy Gobert chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

CBS Sports ranks Giannis Antetokounmpo third on its list of the league's top-25 players

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.