Milwaukee Bucks Secure Fourth Straight Win with 120-113 Victory Over Miami Heat
Image credits: AP Photo/Morry Gash, ASSOCIATED PRESS/Morry Gash
The Milwaukee Bucks have secured their fourth straight win, defeating the Miami Heat 120-113 in a thrilling come-from-behind victory. The Bucks trailed for most of the game, falling behind by as many as 14 points, but managed to turn the tide in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Heat 35-20 in the final 12 minutes. Damian Lillard led the Bucks with 26 points and eight assists, while Giannis Antetokounmpo added 21 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists, his most since returning from a strained left calf.
The Bucks' win was fueled by a dominant performance from their bench unit, which provided a significant boost in energy and momentum. Brook Lopez continued his strong offensive play, scoring 17 points, while Kyle Kuzma added 16 points and Gary Trent Jr. scored 16. The Heat were led by Tyler Herro, who scored 40 points and handed out 11 assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Bucks' late surge. The Bucks improved to 32-24, while the Heat fell to 26-29.
The game saw several notable performances, including Kevin Porter Jr.'s impressive display in the fourth quarter, where he scored seven straight points and assisted on a three-pointer and a lob dunk. Porter's efforts helped the Bucks take their first lead since late in the first quarter, and they never looked back. The Bucks also got a strong defensive performance from Kuzma, who took on the challenge of guarding Herro down the stretch and helped limit his scoring opportunities.
The Bucks' injury report has been a concern in recent games, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard both playing on minute restrictions. However, both players exceeded their expected minutes, with Antetokounmpo playing 31 minutes and Lillard playing 37 minutes. The Bucks also got a boost from the return of Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr., who both missed games due to injury. Pat Connaughton remains sidelined indefinitely with a left calf strain, while Bobby Portis Jr. serves a 25-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug program.
The Bucks' win was also notable for several milestones, including Damian Lillard's 6,004th career assist, making him the 42nd player in NBA history to reach at least 6,000 assists. The Bucks' next game is scheduled for Sunday evening, with a tip-off time of 5 p.m. The game will be aired locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson, and Melanie Ricks on the call. The Bucks are currently 5.5-point favorites over the Heat, with the over/under set at 220.5 points, per BetMGM. Some key statistics from the game include:
- Box score: Bucks 120, Heat 113
- Player statistics:
- Damian Lillard: 26 points, 8 assists
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 21 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists
- Tyler Herro: 40 points, 11 assists
- Tournament schedule: The Bucks have 26 regular-season games remaining
- Team rankings: The Bucks improved to 32-24, while the Heat fell to 26-29
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