Clutch Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 44 to overpower Nets in OT / News - Basketnews.com

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Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 44 points, hit the tying 3-pointer with 18.7 seconds left in regulation, and sank the tiebreaking free throws with three seconds left in overtime as the Milwaukee Bucks (48-28) outlasted the Brooklyn Nets (40-37) 120-119 (23-30, 33-30, 31-26, 23-24, 10-9) on Thursday night in New York.

Player of the Game EFF 45 Giannis Antetokounmpo Points 44 Accuracy 14-21 Rebounds 14 Assists 6

Antetokounmpo helped the Bucks erase a 108-99 deficit over the final 3:52 of regulation and forged a 110-all deadlock with a step-back 3-pointer over Kevin Durant. The Bucks let a 117-113 lead slip away in overtime and trailed 119-118 after Durant sank three foul shots with 8.7 seconds remaining.

After Milwaukee called a timeout, Antetokounmpo drove the lane and was fouled by Nic Claxton just before Durant could make the block. Antetokounmpo then cleanly sank the two free throws, and the game ended when Durant's 3-pointer rimmed out with 1.1 seconds remaining.

Antetokounmpo made 14 of 21 shots and his lone 3-pointer of the game moved him past Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar atop Milwaukee's all-time scoring list. He also added 14 rebounds and six assists to help Milwaukee (48-28) win for the 12th time in 15 games.

Jrue Holiday added 19 points and Khris Middleton contributed 16 for Milwaukee, which shot 44.9 percent and survived 22 turnovers. Middleton was ejected for a flagrant two foul call on Brooklyn's Bruce Brown with 5:05 remaining.

Durant collected 26 points and 11 assists for the Nets (40-37), who lost for the third time in four meetings with Milwaukee this season. Kyrie Irving added 25 and Brown contributed 23 as Brooklyn shot 46.4 percent and hit 18 3-pointers.

The Bucks took an 87-86 lead into the fourth on Antetokounmpo's dunk with 14.9 seconds remaining and held a 96-92 lead when Holiday hit an 8-footer with 8:12 remaining.

The Nets roared back with a 16-3 run and held a 108-99 lead on Durant's alley-oop dunk with 3:52 remaining.

Milwaukee Bucks / Schedule

Memphis Grizzlies Milwaukee Bucks127-102 Philadelphia 76ers Milwaukee Bucks116-118 Brooklyn Nets Milwaukee Bucks119-120 Milwaukee Bucks Los Angeles ClippersSat00:00 Milwaukee Bucks Dallas MavericksSun17:00 Chicago Bulls Milwaukee BucksWed00:00 Milwaukee Bucks Boston Celtics04-0723:30

The Bucks took the lead with 4:34 remaining in overtime on Holiday's tip-in and held a 117-113 lead on a jumper by Bobby Portis with 3:10 left. After Antetokounmpo missed two free throws with 1:39 remaining, Brooklyn's Goran Dragic missed a potential tying 3 with 1:15 left.

The Bucks had another chance to ice it, but Antetokounmpo missed a 21-footer with 20.2 seconds left and Matthews fouled Durant in the corner, setting up the game-ending sequence.

Nets: Kevin Durant 26 (7/15 2PT, 3/6 3PT, 7 REB, 11 AST, 6 TO), Kyrie Irving 25 (5/13 2PT, 4/9 3PT, 5 AST), Bruce Brown 23 (5/12 2PT, 3/5 3PT, 5 REB, 3 BLK), Seth Curry 16 (4/8 3PT), Nicolas Claxton 11 (5/6 2PT, 8 REB).

Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo 44 (13/17 2PT, 15/19 FT, 14 REB, 6 AST, 8 TO), Jrue Holiday 19 (4/11 2PT, 2/7 3PT, 5/6 FT, 8 REB, 4 AST, 6 STL, 6 TO), Khris Middleton 16 (2/7 3PT, 6/6 FT, 9 REB, 4 AST, 4 TO), Wesley Matthews 11 (3/7 3PT), Pat Connaughton 11 (2/6 3PT, 5 REB).

Full game highlights:

Final moments of the match:

Giannis Antetokounmpo highlights:

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