Giannis, Middleton lead Bucks to big NBA win over OKC – Yahoo Sport Australia
Giannis Antetokounmpo has registered 30 points and a season-high 19 rebounds, Khris Middleton recorded his second career triple-double and Milwaukee trounced Oklahoma City 118-93.
Middleton had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first triple-double since January 20, 2018.
The Bucks broke open a close game in the second half as the Thunder (49-21) fell out of the Western Conference lead. The reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets (50-21) didn’t play on Monday (AEDT) and moved a half-game ahead of OKC.
Oklahoma City posted their lowest points total and lowest percentage of the season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 points — the first time since January 19 he was held below 20 — and sat out the entire fourth quarter after Milwaukee had built a lopsided lead.
Australian guard Josh Giddey had 19 points and Jalen Williams added 18 for the Thunder.
Josh Giddey flirted with a triple-double in the Thunder’s loss to the Bucks, posting 19 points, nine boards and eight dimes on 4-for-6 from deep 🏀👏
📺 Watch his #NBA game highlights here: pic.twitter.com/0XDB5vGeop
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) March 25, 2024
Antetokounmpo returned after missing two games due to an issue with his left hamstring.
The Bucks (46-25), second in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics (57-14), had seven players score in double figures. Bobby Portis had 15, Brook Lopez 14, Damian Lillard and Pat Connaughton 11 apiece and Jae Crowder 10.
Milwaukee led 48-47 at halftime and broke open the game by outscoring Oklahoma City 18-2 in the first six-plus minutes of the third quarter.
The Bucks ended up winning the third period 34-17 as OKC matched their lowest points total for any quarter all season.
Minnesota and New Orleans edged closer to the Thunder in the West after both enjoyed wins.
The third-placed Timberwolves (49-22) won 114-110 at home over the 10th-placed Golden State Warriors (36-34) despite Stephen Curry‘s game-high 34 points.
The fifth-placed Pelicans (44-27) saw off the Pistons 114-101 in Detroit, but the fourth-ranked Clippers (44-26) suffered a 121-107 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers in Los Angeles.
In the East, the eighth-placed Heat thrash the third-placed Cleveland Cavaliers 121-84 in Miami with Aussie Patty Mills contributing 10 points, two rebounds and two assists.