Antetokounmpo’s triple-double lifts Bucks over Wizards

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks wereeliminated last season in a Game 7 on the road.

One more victory, and they won’t have to worry about that.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists,and Jrue Holiday nearly added a triple-double of his own as theBucks took another step toward wrapping up the NBA’s best recordwith a 140-128 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesdaynight.

Holiday finished with 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds,and Bobby Portis added 19 points and 20 rebounds for Milwaukee.

The Bucks (57-22) moved to three games ahead of Boston withthree to play, although the Celtics — who beat Milwaukee in thatseven-game series last year — have the head-to-head tiebreaker.Boston lost a 103-101 thriller at Philadelphia on Tuesday, withex-Buck P.J. Tucker hitting big 3-pointers down the stretch asMilwaukee players watched in their locker room.

After that game ended, Antetokounmpo downplayed the importanceof home court just a little, noting that the Bucks were the No. 3seed in the Eastern Conference when they won it all two yearsago.

“At the end of the day, Boston is a beast, Philly is a beast,Cleveland is a beast, New York is a beast,” Antetokounmpo said.

Kendrick Nunn scored 24 points for the Wizards, who are out ofplayoff contention and played without Bradley Beal (left knee),Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Kyle Kuzma (right ankle).Washington kept it close until late in the second quarter, whenMilwaukee closed the half on a 13-5 run to lead 75-62.

It wasn’t close after that, with the Bucks leading by as many as24 points. Milwaukee wasn’t at full strength either. KhrisMiddleton (right knee) missed the game, which was the first half ofa back-to-back for the Bucks. Grayson Allen was also out afterleaving Sunday’s game against Philadelphia with a sprained rightankle.

Pat Connaughton played only 5:40 because of what coach MikeBudenholzer said was a twisted right ankle. Budenholzer was hopefulit’s not too serious.

HIGHLIGHT

On a night when defense was in short supply, Antetokounmpo madean incredible chase-down block on Nunn in the fourth quarter withhis team up 15 — although Corey Kispert followed up with a layupfor the Wizards.

“His competitive fire, his competitive spirit, it’s the best,”Budenholzer said. “A lot of guys I think don’t go get that. Not hisphysical ability to go get it, but just the competitiveness and thewillingness to try. He’s very special that way.”

Antetokounmpo nearly had his triple-double after three quartersbut needed one more assist.

LOTTERY ODDS

Washington (34-45) is now in a three-way tie for 11th place inthe Eastern Conference with Orlando and Indiana.

TIP-INS

Bucks: Jevon Carter (left foot) did not play. ... Portis has 23double-doubles off the bench this season, the most in the league.... Antetokounmpo had eight turnovers. ... Jae Crowder scored 19points. ... Milwaukee shot 23 of 42 from 3-point range.

Wizards: In addition to the Beal-Porzingis-Kuzma trio,Washington was also missing Monte Morris (right ankle), DelonWright (illness) and Deni Avdija (left elbow). Jordan Goodwin,Johnny Davis and Anthony Gill, who had combined for 10 starts allseason, were all in the starting lineup. ... Davis, a first-rounddraft pick last year, scored a career-high 20 points. ... Gaffordpicked up four fouls in the first half.

UP NEXT

Bucks: Host Chicago on Wednesday night.

Wizards: At Atlanta on Wednesday night.