Bucks Zone

Giannis Antetokounmpo posts a double-double in return, lifts the Milwaukee Bucks over the Sacramento Kings

Behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks inched closer to a playoff berth.

Matthew Dugandzic

Giannis Antetokounmpo posts a double-double in return, lifts the Milwaukee Bucks over the Sacramento Kings
Giannis Antetokounmpo posts a double-double in return, lifts the Milwaukee Bucks over the Sacramento Kings /
In this story:

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a three-game absence with a bang, completing a solid double-double to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 133-124 win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.

The Greek Freak leads the squad

Antetokounmpo tallied 46 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and a steal, allowing the Bucks to improve to 49-19 and move closer to becoming the first team to secure a playoff berth this season.

The win allowed Milwaukee to quickly bounce back from a tough 125-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors while also snapping Sacramento's three-game win streak.

Antetokounmpo got plenty of help in the win as Khris Middleton scored 31 points and Brook Lopez added 23.

In increasing their lead to two and a half games over the 47-22 Boston Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings, the Bucks survived a back-and-forth duel at the finish.

Tough battle

Milwaukee surged to a 106-100 lead inside the final eight minutes, but Sacramento fought back that saw them uncorking eight unanswered points to take the lead, 108-106.

The Bucks answered with their own run to take the lead back, 113-108, and another 7-0 run finally put the game beyond the Kings' reach as they surged to a 127-116 advantage with only two minutes left.

De'Aaron Fox scored a team-high 35 points, and Domantas Sabonis completed his impressive 10th triple-double of the season with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists, but the Kings still dropped to third place in the West after falling to 40-27.

The Kings came into the match tied with the Memphis Grizzlies, who won over the Dallas Mavericks on the same night.

Published
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.