Bucks outlast Suns 104-101 for 14th consecutive victory

MILWAUKEE(AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence couldn’t prevent theMilwaukee Bucks from extending the longest winning streak in theNBA this season.

JrueHoliday scored 33 points andproduced a criticalsteal,Brook Lopez made atiebreaking layupwith24.8 seconds left and the Bucks edged the Phoenix Suns 104-101 onSunday for their 14th consecutive victory.

The rematchof the 2021 NBA Finals didn’t include either Antetokounmpo or newSuns superstar Kevin Durant, but it still featured 14 lead changesand plenty of late drama.

“Both teamsobviously have history,” Lopez said. “Those are the fun games,where the refs let it get physical a little bit, you can really goafter each other. It was a great atmosphere.”

Brook Lopez. DPOY.22 PTS | 13 REB | 4 BLK pic.twitter.com/SEll68fw0n

Durant hasyet to appear in a game for the Suns and hasn’t played since Jan. 8because of a sprained right medial collateral ligament.Antetokounmpo was out with a bruised right quadriceps after leavingin the first quarter of theBucks’ 128-99 victory over the MiamiHeaton Friday.

“It’senough where he can’t play today, but I think we’re also confidentthat this is just a fairly common occurrence in our league,” Buckscoach Mike Budenholzer said before the game. “You hit knees, youknock, sometimes it takes a day or two, and it’s really nothingmore than that.”

Holiday ledall scorers, while Lopez had 22 points and 12 rebounds. KhrisMiddleton added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

DevinBooker scored 24 points, Deandre Ayton had 22 and Chris Paul added18 for Phoenix. Ayton also had 11 rebounds.

AfterBooker made a game-tying jumper with 33 seconds left, the Buckscalled a timeout and got the ball to Middleton, who found Lopez forthe go-ahead layup.

Holidaysaid he initially expected Middleton to shoot the ball.

“It’s agreat play,” Holiday said. “At first, I kind of saw it, but Ithought that Khris was going to shoot it because that’s just what‘K’ does. But he’s a playmaker. He’s not just a scorer.”

Phoenixcalled a timeout and went back to Booker, who lost possession asHoliday forced the steal and Lopez got the loose ball.

“That’sjust the defender he is, the player he is,” Lopez said of Holiday.“He’s one of the top two-way players in the league, at least thetop three. Just absolutely phenomenal. Just the best two-way playerin the league. Those are the plays he makes just time and timeagain.”

Booker saidthere was contact on the play, but no foul was called, a reflectionof the game’s physical nature.

“I wastouched,” Booker said. “But I did the same thing to Jrue on theother end. On that play, he hit my arm. But it’s playoff-typebasketball and refs are going to let things go. And that wasthat.”

Joe Inglesmade the first of two free throws to extend Milwaukee’s lead to103-100 with 11.3 seconds left. Ingles missed the second free throwand the ball initially was ruled out of bounds on Milwaukee.

But afterBudenholzer challenged the call, replays determined the ballactually went out on Phoenix’s Terrence Ross. Holiday sank thefirst of two free throws with 10 seconds left but also missed thesecond, making the score 104-100.

Booker wasfouled on a 3 by Ingles with 0.9 seconds left but missed the firstfree throw. Booker made the second and intentionally missed thethird, but Lopez got the rebound to seal the victory.

TIP-INS

Suns:Booker increased his career point total to 12,143 to overtake ShawnMarion (12,134) for fourth place on the Suns’ all-time list. TheSuns’ career scoring leader is Walter Davis, with 15,666 pointsfrom 1977-88. ... The Suns lost for just the fifth time in theirlast 17 games.

Bucks:Wesley Matthews missed a second straight game due to a right calfstrain. He also won’t be available Tuesday at Brooklyn. ... PatConnaughton returned after missing the Heat game with a sore leftcalf, but he went scoreless in 13 minutes. ... Ex-Suns forward JaeCrowder had seven points. He made two 3-pointers during Milwaukee’sfourth-quarter comeback. ... The Bucks’ franchise record forconsecutive wins is 20 straight during their 1970-71 championshipseason.

UPNEXT

Suns: AtCharlotte on Wednesday.

Bucks: atBrooklyn on Tuesday.